Follow along if you dare...

Something is crazy up with our computer. It is working under Mark's log in name, but mine is all kinds of messed up. Mark was able to save all our pictures (which we should have done anyway) and the blog, along with a family recipe book that Mrs. Jennifer and I have been working on for, oh, about 13 years now. Seriously. I started it before Tyler was born. Mrs. Jennifer took over after I had three kids in four years and the thought of finishing a recipe book was the last thing on my mind. Then she had FavCousin and it all got sort of forgotten about. I am happy to say that with Mark's help and me hunkering down about two years ago it got completed. Now it might only take me two more years to actually go and get it printed. I know. Sad, isn't it? But won't the family be happy and surprised when they actually get it? I only told them 13 years ago to be on the look out for it...

The bunnies are growing like crazy and are still adorable. I have lots of pictures but I am afraid to do anything with them until Mark gets all the kinks worked out on the computer. They will be ready to go to their new homes the week of Christmas. Hows that for timing? If you are local and would love a bunny for Christmas let me know. I'll even deliver!

We got our tree up Monday and got it decorated last night. Again, I have pictures, but I'll just let you imagine the chaos. And then we did Christmas card photos after the tree was up. We attempted it anyway. James is a little ham and the big kids were not too happy about having to sit for pictures for so long. Oh well. They'll bounce back.

BFF Rebekah is due any day now. I am sitting on ready to get to the hospital. Rebekah, Friday would be good. Mark will be home and I will have childcare. Just sayin. Saturday and Sunday are going to be really busy for me so you might need to wait until Monday if Friday doesn't work out :). You know I'm kidding girl. But Saturday is not a good day at all.... :)

Speaking of Friday, its the last day of school for the year! Momma and Teacher needs a good break. I said at one time I was actually liking fractions now. I changed my mind. I tend to do that on a regular basis. Except for history. Love me some history. We just finished the War for Independence and that will be a good stopping place for the semester. We will pick back up with the Constitution in the new year.

Okay, I feel like I have wasted a good amount of your morning. So sorry. We just aren't very exciting around here at all.

Jill, I have your camera in my purse and we give it to Momma on Friday when I see her. Is that okay?

A Personal Day....

Yesterday, I got to take a mommy "personal day". My wonderful awesome unbelievable mom kept and schooled the children yesterday so I could do some errands. I'm not gonna lie, it was delightful. Delightful in that I didn't have to be in a hurry, there was no real timetable, I got to pick what I wanted to eat for lunch, and the best part-I knew they would all be home at the end of the day and I could get all the hugs and kisses I wanted. Well, from two of them anyway. Two of my children don't like hugs and kisses so I try not to push it. I save it for mommy-desperate hug times.

I am happy to report that I went to downtown Birmingham all by myself yesterday and DID NOT get lost-not even one time. I went straight to the hospital and was able to come straight by to my town. Even though two roads were closed due to construction. I felt so grown-up.

I saw little Jonathon and it was all I could do not to just scoop him up out of the bed and give him some rocking. He is still hurting pretty badly and it was hurting me to see him like that and his momma having to watch him like that. We are praying today is going to be a much better day.

I did get my hair cut. I decided at the last minute to go for a trim and not an actual cut, but I really like it. I also decided against feathers and beads. Not that I even really considered it, but I did think about getting some feathers from the dollar store and seeing what Mark would say.

And ya'll, yesterday I did one of those things you think of little old gray ladies doing.

I purchased some reading glasses. I am wearing them right now. The look on my kiddos faces yesterday was priceless when they came home. They didn't know whether to laugh or compliment.

I have been noticing for about 6 months now I couldn't see my Bible print and then I would notice I was having to get my books at just the "right distance" to be able to read. So, here I am. I am not sure what will be next. Menthol ointments and heating pads? Oh, wait, I already do that. Hmmmm...

I like the glasses though. For one, I can see the computer screen without squinting. Two, I am sure they are going to add a look of maturity and wisdom as I march into Bible study Thursday with all four kiddos and all our paraphernalia trailing along with us. Or, they just might say, "Wow, she is really old to still have a four year old...."

I did not buy a cute little chain to hold my glasses around my neck necklace style. But I can already tell that is going to be a problem. I read all day long. On and off, on and off. The potential for these glasses getting lost is huge.

Wow, I can't believe I devoted a whole post to reading glasses and you probably can't either. So, what do you, my sweet internet friends, have to say? Necklace for the glasses, or not?

Why I Have A Bunch Of Chickens In My Backyard, by Pappa Rooster

(Guest post today by my own Sweet Hubby, Pappa Rooster)

A friend of ours asked me why in the world a modern person would choose of his own volition to have a bunch of chickens live in his yard. I told him that it was a subject that he would not understand, as he was born in Miami. I further pointed out that, as he has spent his entire working life in a public relations firm here in Birmingham, the honest life of a rural person will always elude him.

As he told me, it is his job to take a truth and bend, stretch, and mutilate it until it serves his purpose. Then he takes that truth and varnishes it, and then he packages it in a container that is much more attractive than the original. As he said, by the time the truth hits the consumer, it no longer represents the original truth, but since it is still loosely based on truth, in this accursed post modern world, it can still be considered the truth. He also has considerable beachfront property in Central Nebraska if anyone is interested.

But I digress; I do have 21 chickens as many of you gentle readers know. They are a hobby. We sell a few eggs to friends who want them. But eggs are dang cheep so we won’t be getting rich selling eggs. I like the idea of my kids knowing about some aspect of country life, their grandkids will not have that opportunity. I like to hear the roosters crow first thing in the morning. Farm and country life is going the way of a firm handshake with eye contact, and real sugar in your tea.

Working a small farm is a religious experience; you spend lots of time working by yourself out under the sun in repetitious activities. Lots of hymns get sung when I am tilling the soil. (Sorry if you’re a neighbor)

I also plan to raise Quail. I want my kids to know the call of bobwhite in the evening. I may even raise goats or maybe a cow or two. There is something very humbling about seeing farm animals brought into the world. And there is something profoundly good for the soul about having to clean manure off of your shoes and feed those animals

When I was a kid Dad got up at the crack of dawn every morning to milk our sweet old cow Big Sister. I remember going up there with him and watching him squirt milk in the cat’s mouths. I remember the smell of Big Sister and the feel of her hair under my hands. I remember the sound of Big Sister chewing her feed and the sound of the milk streaming rhythmically into the bucket. I remember sitting on my Daddy’s milk stool trying to milk and failing.

I vividly remember hearing the rooster crow, and asking crazy questions as to how grass turns to milk. I remember the beauty of the crack of dawn, and the spider webs shimmering coat of dew in the pasture on the crisp fall morning. I remember my Father in his rubber boots, lifting me over the muck into the milk stall, the same milk stall that I had to tear down last winter before it collapsed and hurt someone.

I remember Momma churning the milk, and making butter and the smell and taste of fresh butter and a glass of real milk. I remember Momma putting money in the “butter and egg” jar. Some days those memories warm me, halcyon days of youth,,,,,,.

The barn is gone and the fence that enclosed our pasture is but a bit of memory in my mind. I crave to rebuild them both and in some way rebuild a simpler time when life made sense, and happiness abounded, and no one tried to convince me that truth is relative. I have started the rebuild, and would have finished already, but time and money have once again conspired against me. I will get it done one day.

That is why I have a bunch of chickens in my backyard.

But no pigs……I hate pigs.

Add it to the list...

Do any of you have a running list of all things you never thought you would say as a parent? I do and I got to add a new one yesterday.

Child Fuss and Child Fight came in both mad as hornets arguing about something. They both wanted me to say that they were in the right. I listened as one cried and pleaded their case. Then I listened as the other almost cried and pleaded their case. The tension in the air was thick. As they both told their version of the story my eyes began to open widely (and wildly, I might add), in disbelief over what they were arguing over.

This proceeded out of my mouth, "Do you two realize you are arguing over a dead chicken?!!!!"

And it was a long-dead chicken at that.

And then I realized in all my mommy dreams of sweet little toddlers and babies running around (somehow I never got past that stage in my dreams), I never thought I would say THAT.

What are some of the weirdest mommy words you have ever said?

Christmas Tree 2009, Part 2, by Pappa Rooster

Where was I, Oh yeah.

Matt was in the plum thicket and had cut down the tree. He had cried TIMBER and then nothing happened due to the large quantity of saw briers, honeysuckle and privet hedge holding the tree straight up and keeping it in the thicket.

Me: "Matt do you need some help?"

Matt: "Dad, I don’t need any help, this is my tree, I’m telling you I got this tree, now stop messing with me."

Me: "You got it Bub, but you are gonna have to cut those vines to get that tree out, and when you do drag it by the bottom of the trunk."

Matt: "I know. Get back over there. I’ll call you when I get out."

I went back to the swing and pushed Abbie and James on the swing. I could hear snarling, moaning, and wailing from the thicket. It sounded like he was at war with the thicket. I could see almost the entire thicket shaking. All this time Matt was getting bit by ants, but would not accept any help.

Finally with Herculean effort the trunk of the tree began to emerge from the thicket.

Matt: "Ok Dad, you can pull now if you want too."

Me: "You sure?"

Matt: "Dad, Your killing me here,come pull it out."

Me: "I thought this was your tree?"

Matt: "It is, now come over here and help me pull it out."

Me: "You got it kid."

I came over and pulled the tree free of the thicket,. You would have thought that Matt had just won an Olympic medal. He did his touchdown dance. He yelled and whooped. It was classic. I have no idea where he gets his personality, but you gotta love the kid.

Matt drug the tree half way to the house an then he was whupped. He had spent all his energy in the hand on branch warfare and now was willing to let Tyler help drag.

Once it was at the house I wanted to take their picture. As I was taking a few Abbie decided that she wanted to help cut the tree to length. As soon as Matt realized what was happening he had a conniption fit, and ended up running after Abbie as she ran with the saw. Much yelling ensued as I shouted, "Don't run with a saw in your hand!"

Matt measured the ceiling and went looking for a suitable base for the tree, our tree stand was too small to fit the trunk of the tree. We found a good bucket and decorated the tree.

Again to be continued.

***He ran out of time to finish, but we got the tree in the house and the kids began to decorate. James was so excited because "A tree Momma, a real tree IN THE HOUSE!!!!!" He could not stop saying it over and over. It was too cute.

Mark did the lights and then we sat on the loveseat and let them decorate the tree. I was hesitant to post this video because it shows the wilder side of my kiddos. They are not this loud ALL the time. I promise. They were hamming it up some for the pictures they thought Mark was taking. (They had no idea Mark was videoing them). They are all characters, that's for sure. - MamaHen

Pappa Rooster, Matt, and the Christmas Tree, By Pappa Rooster

Pappa Rooster has been busy writing again.

Last year I posted about our Rockwellian Christmas tree experience. Its in my notes if you are curious. This year the two oldest boys and I got together and began our hunt. First Matthew had a fit. It was apparent that he felt left out the previous year by Tyler taking the lead in the cutting. He felt as if he had been slighted because of his being younger than Tyler. So I told him he could cut the tree this year. Matt was happy.

We found several nice trees that were easily accessible to everyone. Matt would have none of that. He wanted one that he picked out on his own, Soooooooo. He found one deep within what we refer to as the Plumb Thicket.

About 30 years ago there were three plumb trees in our pasture. They have long since died and privet hedge, saw briers, and one lone cedar tree have taken their place. It is a difficult place for a thin mouse to slip into much less a mere human. But, Matthew is not a mere human, he is a boy of uncommon resolve, and he had so resolved to cut this tree without the aide of anyone. So I handed him the saw and he crawled into the plumb thicket.

He began sawing; I could not even see him. I had him crawl to the edge so I could take his picture. He had no room to move the saw back and forth. He had to cut brush away so he could get to the tree. He finally began cutting the cedar tree. I offered to send Tyler in to help him but he shouted down that quickly.

Then came the ants.

Matt: “Ants, aggg, ants are all over my tree!”.

Me: “Need some help?"

Matt: “No, get back, I’m cutting down this tree!”

Me “Cut faster then.”

Matt: “moan”

I could tell this was going to take a while so I went and got a chair.

Tyler came along realizing that once Matthew puts his mind to something you might as well get comfortable; he took my chair and put it in the swing.

Abbie came along with us. She had just taken a shower; the next obvious step for her was to wallow in the mud and put hay into a huge pile and jump into it with her baby brother.

About the time I started to worry that Matt might have to spend the night in the thicket he called out, “Timber!”. But the tree didn’t fall. There was no room for the tree to fall. It was held up with saw briars and honeysuckle vines.

Matt: “Its stuck.”

Me: “Want some help?”

Matt: “NO, I cut this tree and I am getting it out, this is my tree.”

Me: “OK brother, hurry it up, I am getting tired of waiting”

Matt: “Moan”

Do you see a trend here?

TO BE CONTINUED