Stormy day! My day started with dropping the kids off at Boxholm VBS, then having the vet come look at Traveler. Our main Vet, Jessica is going to work for USDA. Now we are trying a new vet, Carly. She came today with x-ray and ultrasound machines. She was here for two hours. She blocked him in several different places on his foot and in the end injected his coffin area and tendon with cortisone. We did rule out navicular, but never did get a firm diagnosis. It is so frustrating and Traveler seemed like a pin cushion with all the needle pokes he took. He is so awesome, he stand like a statue while being worked on. During the two hours, the weather radio chimed in 7 times with various weather warnings. Then it came, the rain, thunder, and then hail. Everything sounds much louder in a tin shed. The hail was very sporadic, here and there. It was also various sizes from tiny to golf ball. When a big one hit the shed, it sounded like we were being shot at. Then it came down in buckets. It p
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Our day was full, but enjoyable. Chruch at 11, lunch in town, bible study with Buhr’s from 2-4, then roping and riding in the arena with Tony and Mike T. While the guys were out riding, Jayden and Alivia worked on their horse 4H posters for the fair. Around 7:30 the weather was getting stormy. Stratford and Stanhope had a small tornado and many areas got damage. My parents had to take cover too. We got some rain and in the wee hours it got stormy again.
Today one of our favorite, (my favorite), cats died. He was found by the nighbor on the road. Sunny was a black and white tiger stripe cat that we acquired from the shop. We believe he wandered over from the former residence living at Leotta’s house. He was so friendly and loveable that he annoyed the guys working at the shop. He would rub on them and love on them. He was skin and bones. He was too nice to leave there, so we took him in during the spring of 2010. It didn’t take long to fatten him up, worm, vaccinate, and care for him. In no time, he was a new cat. He was so sweet, loved to play but always kept his claws in. He would stand up to rub against you and wanted to be petted. He loved belly rubs the most. He was my favorite because he would always find me whether I was feeding horses, working in the gardern or just walking outside, he found me with his sweet little meow. I could never resist giving a belly rub and carrying him around. He would purr and purr. I will miss that
I wanted to have a birthday party for my Dad and Alice at our home. I had my parents, Alice, brother and family down. I grilled steaks for ribeye sandwhiches and had lots of food. Then we all went out to the arena to ride. We saddled up all 4 horses and took turns. I think Alivia had the most fun on Winnie. She is scared to ride at her home, but was getting really confident on our horse. Winnie has been so amazing for beginners. Luke was feeling pretty good and started trotting all by hinmself. Both Alice and Dad did some riding. We even got Wade on a horse for a lap. After horses, we sat around the fire and had smores and birthday cake. I think Dad had a good time.
Life has been crazy and busy so when the boys Swim lessons got rained out I was kind of glad. Then to top it off, Mark offered to take the kids to their 4H horse meeting. Oh, to have a whole day where I don’t have to rush here and there, what a blessing! Mark recently took his 1994 four wheeler to get fixed. Once we got it here, the boys were so excited to take it for a spin. We let Jake and Jayden drive after a brief instruction. They have to wear Mark's old helmet and stay in second gear. They are doing pretty good. Even I enjoy driving it!
Luke tested in taekwondo and he had lots of support. Our family and Grammer and Po went. Luke talked about it all week and said he wanted to make sure all of us were there to watch him. He did a good job. Only two from his class tested and they only had to do their form one time. He and Maddie were so in time that they even yelled at the same time. It was pretty cute. He earned his orange belt with a black stripe. We all went out to eat to celebrate. Now we will take a two month break from class for the summer.
This week, after swim lessons, mom would swap kids, Jake went and stayed a night, then Jayden, then Luke. They all got some grandparent time. Jayden and Jacob also spent a night at Spillmans. The did all kinds of outside stuff and had a great time. Jacob loves to go hang out with is new friend Alex. They have so much fun together. One Sunday Spillman's took Jake to an old car show, that was a hit.
This is the week of swim lessons for the boys. We have done private lessons, and this year we are trying something new, outdoor group swim lessons in Straford. The outside temperature is nice and sunny, but the pool is not heated and the boys are always shivering.Today we also had the vet come to look at Traveler’s lame leg, Ace's small gash in his shoulder, and the goat has the runs. The vet was here two hours. The goat has the most problems and Traveler needs to be seen again to have ultrasound and x-ray. Why do animals have to make life difficult?
For Father’s Day, we went to Church and to the Burr’s for the afternoon. They grilled brats and we ran around outside with kites. It was a very windy good day for kite flying. Only one kite made it in the air, so our kids really didn’t get in on the kite flying. We decided we would try with our kites later. It was anice Dad day just being outside on a nice day. My Dad was in Minnesota over the weekend. I feel like the luckiest to have had an awesome Dad. He would go to the ends of the earth for me and I think he came pretty close when we drove to Spearfish south Dakota. Oh the crazy things a Dad will do for his daughter. Love him! After we got home, we headed to Karen and Orrie’s for another Father’s Day grill out. All the families were there for the first family gathering in quite some time, other than graduation. After eating, I got the kites out for the kids. That was a hit. Jake was so happy to get to see Rylie and do something fun together. The two of them had kites as high as the
Mark was my arena help for today's Match of the Broncs event, so the two of us were on foot setting up and running around. I was up to the arena by 11 with Jayden. She practiced serpentine and warmed up her horses. Mark and I staked the barrels with Lori . We set up barrels and poles and timers. It was a lot of running through the arena and setting up. It was a very hot day and some of the arena was deep and mushy. It was a workout. Jayden had a big fan club today. My parents came down along with Alice, Wade, Alivia, Carina, Shelley, Santanna, and Aspen and of course the boys. Jayden ran in barrels and poles. Things did not go too well. She knocked her first barrel. Her time was the fastest time of all the girls, but a plus 5 penalty put her in last. That was bitter sweet. Poles did not go well as he darted in too soon and knocked a pole. She is still learning and getting used to her horse, but it is so frustrating especially when you know so many people are watching. One day thi
Our crazy little kitten we finally gave a name, “Little Bit”. I helped name her because she is a little bit crazy and a little bit sweet. She is fun and high maintenance. She requires a bottle every 3 to 4 hours. She is smart and potty trained right away. We keep her in a tote in the laundry room and she sleeps in a tiny cardboard mailbox. So far, she never wants to cuddle in your lap or sit quiet. She is a wild child that likes to run play and attack. Never in all my years have I had such a mean little kittens. She wants to attack your ankles as you walk and your hands as you pet her. She went from adorable to viscous. I think she needs a playmate!
All week I have been trying to stay on top of the house because tonight we were having company. Today my focus was to have everything ready by the time they came tonight. I cleaned the grill, the garage, the deck, the windows, pulled weeds, did laundry, dishes, cleaned, and prepared food. Jacob mowed almost the entire yard for his first time on his own. He did a great job and was very helpful. I love the idea of having company to our house for dinner and to invite people to ride horses. I would like to do it often. After today, I am just exhausted and rethinking the whole idea. If it takes that much work just to have company, I am not sure I can do it too often. Our company was the Burr family and they arrived at 7:00. We had the food already on the grill and ready shortly after they arrived. We also had the horses in the arena saddled and ready, and watered down the ground with sprinklers. The adults had steak and the kids hot dogs. The kids happily ate outside on the deck while the
This was our week of VBS at Cornerstone. Jayden helped in crafts, Jake was in with 5 th grade, Luke 1 st grade, and I helped with one of the 4 sections of 1 st and 2 nd grade. It was a fun week and as always, Cornerstone does such an amazing job. This year the theme was Secret Agents. They went all out with props and costume for the opening. The leaders and pastor Shane were dressed in black like spies. They even had a guy come repelling from the ceiling. It was pretty cool and definitely got the kids attention. One morning Jacob decided he needed to dress like one of the agents. He wore his sunglasses and black sports coat. I love it!! He is always hesitant about going to things like this, but once there he gets so into it. The last day Jacob invited Alex and Jayden had Makenna help in the kids craft room. During VBS the kids investigated that Jesus truly is the son of God.
After VBS I met Lisa N. and her kids. It has been fun getting together over the years and watching Mallory and Luke grow up as buds. They always connect like they saw each other every day. After lunch we went to the Ames water park complete with tube slides and lazy river. It was super hot 90’s and the water was cold. It was a great day to be there. Jayden kind of stayed by my side and tagged a long. I had a mother ask me if she is a great kid, does well in school and is reliable. I said yes, how can you tell, she told me she could just tell it and she sees so many 14 to 15 year old girls that are so disrespectful to their mothers. Jayden has always been so exceptional. Jake and Mason did their own thing together, going on water slides and the lazy river. Luke and Mallory played in the splash pool and eventually went down a kiddie slide. It was a big slide, double wide and fast. It took a lot of encouraging, several attempst up the ladder, and mom to catch him at the bottom before he
It was a cool day. By evening we were dreading Jayden's serpentine practice. It was around 48 degrees while the girls were riding. Jayden had on gloves and a stocking cap. I stayed in the truck the whole time with Jacob and watched. Those girls are cowgirl tough.
JMO Inappropriate Television - Growing up I used to enjoy watching music videos. Today I hear country songs and I know the name of the artist, but most times I don’t even know what they look like and it has been a really long time since I have watched any music videos. The other day I turned to a channel of country music videos. The song was something about let her lie. They showed a couple in bed, they showed them in action, they showed them naked in the shower from waist up. I was in shock. I thought I was watching porn. I was in disbelief as to how bad they have gotten, to how much is allowed, how much is ok to show. It was just floored at how this video left so little to the imagination. It disgusts me to know that any child any age can flick on the t.v. and see that. Then there is the local noon news. I think they show and tell way more than we need to hear. Today the instant the news ended, a soap opera started. The first scene was two men face to face with their arms wrapped ar
6/10/14 We discovered a kids museum in Iowa City near our hotel and spent the morning enjoying it. The museum was perfect for the boys. They have always loved imaginative play. This place was a hit. They started with a grocery store stocked with every kind of play food. The items had bar codes the kids could swipe at the checkout counter and worked on real computers. Then there was the pizza restaurant. They could make a pizza with all the toppings made of plastic and even a wood fire oven. In the restaurant, you could take orders, be a waiter and seve the food. There was a medical center with ambulance, all kinds of medical supplies including, x-ray machine, crutches, gurnery, and the dentist office with giant teeth. The flight simulators were awesome too. Mark and I enjoyed attempting to fly and land a plane. They even had airplane leather bomber jackets for them to wear during flight. There was the bank with play money and a teller window. So many fun things to do and my kid
Monday and Tuesday Jayden attended Rodeo camp at Widmer’s in Deep River Iowa. She attended the same camp last year and really enjoyed it. This year our whole family made a little vacation out of it. We all went and while Jayden was at camp, we stayed at a hotel and did other things. Camp started at 9AM, so we all had an early start to our morning. The kids got to have a first, Casey’s breakfast pizza or donut. At Widmer’s the first thing I noticed were some very young kids on horses. Last year Jayden’s group was all teenagers. This year, the kids were all under 11, with two 6 year olds. She was by far the oldest. I am glad Jayden took it in stride and did not let that bother her. I watched the morning and the boys went to a Kinze Farm Implement museum. With all the little kids in the camp, I think Jayden had to spend a lot of extra time in the saddle watching and waiting. The Widmer's are very good at what they do and they know horses.
After church we had lunch then went to the Burr family home for fellowship and plans for our group. They are such neat people and we all shared our God story and a little about ourselves. Dan is in the Navy, an ROTC instructor and a pilot. He has a million stories and today he shared two crashes he was in. One was a helicopter with 50 humanitarian volunteers aboard and the other was himself crashing a plane and being stuck upside down inside for hours. His stories are incredible. He could write a book or make a movie out of his experiences. Hollywood doesn’t even compare to what he’s got. Angelia is a Medical Temporaries consultant. Awesome people that I look forward to getting to know better.
With Grandma’s help, Jayden is doing a really neat project that she will take to the fair. She takes old worn out Iowa flags and cuts the stars out. She puts the stars in a bag with a poem. The poem basically says torn and tattered, but you are not forgotten and thanks a veteran. Jayden finds Veterans and hands them a star thanking them for their service. She spend her fee time cutting stars and has even gotten her brothers to help at times.