This and That....

This morning, we had LOTS of blackberries to pick.  All 3 kids came to help, and they did a SPLENDID job!  Isaac and Jadelyn picked ahead of Ruby and I, who came behind on clean-up duty.  Took a little over an hour, but we got 3 gallons.  I was supposed to make jam today, but alas, I did not.  I weeded.  And weeded.  And weeded the garden.  And did some laundry.  I'm old and sore now.  Well, I was already old.  Now I just added sore to it.  =P  Hopefully the weather (and my back) will hold out long enough to finish the garden tomorrow.  I really don't have that much left, but it's a part that hasn't been weeded for 2 weeks or so.  So yeah...that doesn't go so quickly.

It's part of this whole, let's-get-this-house-and-yard-ready-to-sell-for-a-good-price deal.  So so SO hoping it sells quickly so we don't have to worry about selling it anymore.  It would be nice to have one piece of the puzzle done.  As long as we get good neighbors in here for Mr. Tom and Ms. Tina.  Also, we finally got technologically advanced today and got our offer e-mailed to the realtor in what will be our new state of residence, so we'll see how that goes.  We really low-balled our offer - the house needs lots of fixing...and I'm cheap.  And it's bank-owned.  So, hopefully they just want this house off their hands!  ;P

Today the kids and Daddy-o headed into the booming metropolis of our hometown to pick up some ice cream and cones.  At the one and only Dollar General.  'Cause we're big and fancy like that.  So, they came back with stories.  Ruby said that a man dropped 3 cards and didn't know it (presumably credit cards?) so she picked them up and gave them back to him.  And also, a Daddy was holding his little girl who was around 4, and she kicked off her flip-flop, so Ruby picked it back up and gave it to them.  Guess she had a big pick-up day at DG!  ;P  Then, it was Jadelyn's turn to tell me a story.  On their way home, they saw a semi truck out on our booney roads....stuck.  We were talking about it again at lunch, and she was wondering, "why was that truck out here?" or something.  And then, like she often does, she came up with her own answer - to the extent of, "oh.  Maybe he wanted to go see if there was a bear up the hill and kill it."  Yup.  Why does she say these things like they are totally logical explanations?!?!?!?

In other news on the farm, David mowed and weed whacked and pruned down branches that used to whack us when we were mowing and burned brush and sprayed weeds in the driveway and overall was the bomb-diggity.  The kids cleaned up their turtle outside that they keep their outdoor toys in, and also rescued the tadpoles from the nasty pool (they wanted to get tadpoles in their pool, so we didn't clean it out, and boy did they get tadpoles!)  with help from the bomb-diggity Daddy-o.  Oh, and Hickory has another tick on his neck.  And I'm gonna miss our creek.

And that's enough mundaneness for now! 

Naptime Prayers

Isaac was praying along at naptime when he got to the part about something like this: "thank you that I got to hear Pancake purr like pppppppppppp...."  Don't think I've EVER put sound effects into my prayers!!!  ;)

And then Ruby was praying along when she got to something like, "thank you that I have big cheeks [then proceeds to blow out cheeks]" before continuing on and ending with something like, "thank you that I'm special to you, and Mommy and Daddy.  Amen"  Sure are, Rubes, sure are.

Jadelyn's?  It was her oft prayed, "Dear Jesus, Please help me.  Amen". 

And on a side note, on the way out to the chicken shed to feed/water Saumi and Pancake, I was holding Isaac's hand.  I told him that I like holding his hand.  And I asked him if I can hold his hand when he's a grown-up.  He assured me that I can.  What about when he's a Daddy?  Yup.  Anytime.  I'm a lucky Mamma.  ;)

When I Grow Up....

"I don't want to be a boss when I grow up" my little man told me the other week. "I'd get too tired of bossing people around." "So, what do you want to do when you grow up?" I asked. "I want to be retired." Ha! Dream big my man, dream big!

Then, this morning, Isaac and Jadelyn were informing me that they did NOT want to be teachers when they grew up. Since I already know that Isaac wants to be retired when he grows up, I took this opportunity to ask Jadelyn what she wants to do when she grows up. "Live with you and eat dog food and cat food and chicken food!" (At least she's consistent in her goals, yes?  =O)  Who knew that "retired" would be the best goal of these two jokers? =O On a side note, I was informed that she will buy her own dog, cat, and chicken food, so at least I won't be supporting her terrible dietary habits.  =P  Gross. 

My Sweet Little Isaac, (Who's Getting to be Not So Little Anymore =O)

My little fella is the longest-lasting berry picker.  I go out in the morning to pick berries so we can have fresh ones for breakfast.  Isaac comes out to join me most of the times.  Sometimes in his jammies.  Sometimes with his heavy jacket on.  Not that it's that cold, but just because.  I think because he doesn't like his light jacket.  =O  Anyhow, it's just a special time.  "Why don't the girl's come out?" he asked one day.  But then he's decided that he likes this time.  Just the two of us.  On a "date", he says.  Some days he's a big helper.  Other days he's a big TALKER.  ;)  Mostly the latter, lately.  The other day, a good while after the girl's had gotten up, he said, "I wish the girl's weren't awake yet."  I asked him why.  "So we could still be on a date".  Special times for sure.

The other day, there was a VERY heavy dew on our rather long-and-needing-a-good-mowing grass.  As we were walking, most likely hand-in-hand, 'cause that's how we do things, you know, he got to giggling a little.  For, you see, water was spraying out the front of his crocs.  "I'm a sprinkler!" he exclaimed.  Why don't I see the simple joys like that?  Maybe I'm not looking.  Thanks, little man, for teaching me.  Again.  I love you.

4th of July Fireworks

We took the kids to fireworks last night.  Their first fireworks ever.  Yes, they're deprived.  Anyhow.  They were excited at first.  And loved the home-fireworks people were shooting off around us.  But when the first big ones started, they weren't such big fans.  They were SURE we were too close to them (not so).  Jadelyn whimpered off and on through most of the show.  Ruby and Isaac got to where they were enjoying it and exclaiming over the fireworks, but Ruby kept asking when the fireworks were going to be over - not sure if she wanted them to be or if she was jut looking at the glass half-empty.  =P  Anyhow, though we got no pictures of awe-inspired children during the fireworks show like I was hoping, it was still a good time, and I got in some good cuddles.  ;)

Also, there was a Mom with two children next to us.  The kids climbed on the hood of the car, and the Mom wrapped a white blanket around them both, and I tell you - it was just adorable.  I told David that it was one of those pictures you would see on MSN about the week in pictures.  Precious.

Afterward, we got stuck in SLOW traffic, and then David decided to stop at McDonald's for a special ice cream treat.  You'd not have thought it was a special treat.  When David asked the kids who wanted to share an ice cream cone with him, Jadelyn said she was so tired, and Ruby started fake snoring.  Only Isaac piped up, "ME!!!!"  Ha.  Anyways, that was crazy (for us).  Got home and got the kids in bed and we got to bed around midnight.  Crazy.  That's been 5 late nights in a row.  And some more crazy scheduled days coming up.  More about that some other day.  Maybe.

Oh!!!  And on the way up to the fireworks we saw a rainbow behind us.  So David turned around and pulled into a parking lot, and we got out and admired the beautiful, full, BIG double rainbow.  And the sheep (or were they goats? =O) and chickens in a truck parked at Lee's Famous Chicken.  ;)

Oh!  The reason I got on to make a post - silly me.  =P  Jadelyn was more excited about the handles on the bathroom doors in McDonald's than she was in the fireworks.  And the fact that there was only one sink in the bathroom at McDonald's.  She was admiring them and saying how "cool!" they were.  Oh, the simple joys.  ;)  Maybe next time we want to do something fun we'll just visit the bathroom at McDonald's during a more sane hour.  ;)

Rainy Day fun...

Jadelyn just came in from out in the pouring rain holding a big 'ole grasshopper - very proud of her catch.  I reminded her that grasshoppers belong outside.  I was told something to the effect of, "We're keeping care of it 'cause it was out in the rain".  Sorry Lynnie...gotta let that critter go.  I'm so glad that my kids don't share my creepy crawlies!  ;P  Though they were strangely freaked out by the crayfish in the creek last night.....

It's been a fun rainy day...going through some stuff, mending clothes, and listening to the kids play "church".  That's why Jadelyn was outside.  They all had to walk outside with umbrellas to get to church.  ;)

Nighttime Shenanigans with Jadelyn

Tonight Jadelyn's bedtime prayer when something like this: "Dear Jesus, I'm so glad I have my Mommy." said with her little hand around my neck.  Ah, it's so refreshing to hear things like that when I often feel so inadequate and overwhelmed with life....

Then, we went into a conversation.  Part of it was about how "when I grow up, I'm going to eat dog food and cat food and chicken food!!!"  Set your aspirations high, my child.  Set 'em high!!!  ;P  Then she was telling me about how she is going to live with Ruby.  I asked if they would be able to get along.  Shortly after she said she was going to live with me, but she was still going to eat dog food and cat food and chicken food.  Guess she's not a fan of my cooking?  ;P

Lynnie Loofah, I sure love your crazy self.  Even when you emerge from your bedroom within minutes of going to bed because you need to go potty.  Way to hold it until my sanity hour.  ;)