Amish Town....

This morning, the kids were happily playing in the sandbox (favorite activity of this week), when Hickory started barking.  And kept barking.  Finally, I looked out the window from where I was working on making zucchini out of the zucchinis that I let get too big (=O) and what did I see, but 4 horses meandering through our yard.  I quickly called the kids in (never know what those crazy animals may do - I don't want a repeat of Ruby flying through the air after getting kicked by a horse), and then I thought that maybe the horses were in the pasture after all.  But no, they were in the yard.  Coming toward the house.  2 big horses, and 2 baby horses.  Beautiful, but I don't know nothin' 'bout no horses.  So, I did what any rational human being would do.  I called David, who works in another town.  ;P  I didn't have the phone number for our Amish neighbors, but David did, so I wanted the number to give them a quick call to come get their horses, if these were indeed theirs.  I failed go get ahold of David, so the kids loaded up for a quick adventure ride to the Detweilers home.  They thought that was a bit strange (at least Ruby did), since this Mama goes NOWHERE.  =O  Anyhow, on our way out of the driveway, we met another neighbor, who had driven by, seen the horses on the road, and turned around to see what was going on (I presume).  He asked if they were my horses.  I said no, but I thought maybe they belonged to the Detweilers.  Anyhow, we got to the neighbors, where some strange, excitable English woman (ahem, that would be me) told Jonathan that his horses were loose and walking down the road.  I asked if he wanted a ride.  He was very, VERY laid back about it all, and said, no, he'd just walk.  He thanked me for coming to tell him and then ambled off down the driveway.  Well, we saw him walk by the house one way, and then the other.  With no horses.  Oooops.  I'm guessing those weren't his horses?  =O  Gotta love country livin'! 

Then, at lunch, Ruby was telling me about how when they were out and about with Daddy yesterday, hanging up flyers at Amish establishments about our house for sale, she saw an Amish lady with 3 kids.  One was little "like this" (holding hands up to measure out an appropriate baby size), one was about Jadelyn's size, but a little shorter, and probably 2 or 3, and one had "Jacob's eyes", and maybe face, but definitely eyes.  Wide open and staring.  Must admit, I've never seen Jacob stare, but he does have nice eyes!  ;)

And this morning, Ruby was quizzing me down about how we know if a baby is Amish or not.  I explained it has to do with how the parents want to raise them.  This conversation went on for a while, and I said that all the people are the same, just believe different things.  No, Ruby argued, Amish are NOT the same as us - they wear hats!  Sigh....

I sure will miss this place.

A "Situation"...

Tonight I was informed by a special Ruby girl that she had gone into the garage and there was a "situation" between Hickory and Alpine.  As I was in the midst of asking what the situation was, Ruby responded, "[hi]ssssssssssssssssss".  Yup.  Sounds like a situation to me!  ;)

Jadelyn emerged from her room soon after being put down for a nap because she had to go potty.  When she does this (most often at nighttime), it takes her FOREVER to go.  Today was no exception.  And though I was a bit perturbed at the interruption of peace and quiet, I sat on the stool waiting for her to finish, looking at her with admiration.  How fantastic that I am the mother of this special gal!!!  Even if she goes potty at inconvienent times.  ;P

Tidbits of Life

I don't remember all the context, but Ruby was saying how David is a "big, strong, healthy man".  So, dearest David, when you're feeling particularly short, weak, or ailing, remember Ruby's glowing description of you!  =)

On Thursday, David took the kids to the booming metropolis of our hometown to hang up flyers about our house for sale.  They were gone for hours.  Turned out they not only hung up flyers, but getting a field trip at the firestation (complete with goody bags), getting suckers at the hair salon, getting ice cream for good behavior, oh...and licking salt licks at the farm store.  Yup.  David was showing me pictures he took on his cell phone, and there was a picture of the kids licking salt licks.  I thought it was a fake staging for a photo op, but no, David assured me, they were really licking the salt licks.  Later, I overheard Ruby and Isaac talking about it.  I believe it was Isaac who was like, "Ruby, when you grow up, you can buy a salt lick and lick it whenever you want!"  Just another example of the high aspirations of adulthood my children have.  ;)

We were up late last night after having our church friends over.  Ended up there were 30 of us, so we had a good showing!  The kids got to bed about 2 hours later than normal, so we decided to let 'em sleep in.  Ruby and Isaac slept in a grand total of about 30 minutes.  An hour after their usual wake-up time, I went in to wake up Jadelyn.  After a little cuddle time, I picked her up to cuddle her more.  After a while, I noticed she went back to sleep.  Finally, I figured I'd better wake her up for sure, so I brought her out of her room.  We cuddled on the couch some more, and then we were looking out the window, just having a nice time - giggling zerberts and all.  "Mommy was in my room a LONG time", Jadelyn told David of my 20 minute stay in her room.  At some point, Jadelyn mentioned that she didn't talk to me at all when I was in her room.  "Because I didn't have any questions".  I asked her how it was possible that she didn't have any questions, since she always has LOTS.  "Because I didn't raise my hand".  ;)  What a special time I had with my Lynnie this morning!

Then, Isaac was all excited 'cause David said that we were going to put some eggs under a lamp and try to hatch some since the hens aren't laying on them themselves.  This excitement led to a conversation about meat.  Isaac's monologue went kinda like this, "Daddy used to eat meat.  Lllllaaahhh.  Chickens and cows.  Lllllaaaahhh.  And if I marry someone who eats meat, she will have to buy it with her own money.  And I can't watch her eat it.  Lllllaaahhhh.  And I'll have to eat in another room.  Llllllaaaaahhhh.  But if she eats vengtables, I will buy them for her."  I told him how Gram loves Pucka so much that even though Gram doesn't eat meat, she would buy meat and cook it for Pucka.  He didn't seem convinced that he will have that kind of love.  =P

Ruby was out in the garage with Hickory this morning.  She then popped her head in with "good news", I believe was the term.  When she was trying to lock Hickory out of the garage, a frog hopped in.  "And I still have it!"  Sure enough, in her hand was a little toad.  A cute little booger.  But Ruby kindly kept him out of the house.  Sweetie.  ;)  Isaac and Jadelyn then had to go check it out.  And then the girls played with it for the next half an hour or so.  At some point, they came into the laundry room where I was, asking Daddy to look up on the computer what toads eat.  I told them maybe they eat flies and stuff.  Ruby said something like, "Oh!  So maybe we should put it by a spider web!"  "Good idea!!!!" Lynnie exclaimed, and off they went.  I will certainly miss "the farm life" when we move in a few weeks....=(