fair

Fair followed Johns homecoming weekend. The first day we entered static exhibits in the red barn. After seeing the weak showing of crops by FFA members we quickly drove and gathered some crops from Uncle Kevin for Reed to show. He got enough to enter in open class for the other kids as well. 

Millie did not make weight after a diligent effort of hand feeding her pig 3x a day for two weeks. She was available for other shows like dairy. She really enjoyed the tame dairy cows. Key word being tame work has been put in to make them so gentle. Washing them was a particular favorite activity. Or maybe she really enjoyed the teamwork with the owners. Nonetheless, fair provides many opportunities to learn new skills and help fellow club members. 

The younger kids entered baked goods. Sugar cookies and the new york times best chocolate chip cookies. Out west they were not the best. We think they are delicious. 

Merle entered an apple pie. 

He won judges choice. 

Afton showed her hog. We have to learn to bend over like the other more serious showmen. We have not been very dilligent learning the fine skills of showing our livestock. 

Reed dong what it takes to sell the animal at fair prices. 

Showing the grandmas what we entered and seeing what the cousins entered. 

JAke was a good sport but when he was done he was done. 

Both girls enjoyed time in the ring with the jersey cows. The dairy princess is always a nice lady. 

And one early morning on the way to prepare animals Reed hit a deer that was crossing the road. Thankfully the kids were ok. The van is totaled. We took another car to him he went on and Addie and Greg towed the van to the shop. Yet another life experience I guess. 

Andrea won sugar for her raspberry jam she entered. She truly does make it. She picks a few berries, I wash them, she smashes them and adds the sugar and clear gel. She got quite the load of sugar for her entry. I promised her we would make stuff with it when the big kids go to school. We still need to do that. 

The fair experience was good as always. I went as long as I could with Jake and then came home and rested out of the heat.  The kids had a good time watching shows, visiting with friends, and enjoying ice cream specialties. Another year down kids grew in confidence, responsibility and enjoyed winning a bit. All these are important parts of growing up. We are thankful for the wonderful club leaders, the caring parents and family support. And the very generous buyers who provide so much monetary support to the kids work. The main buyers and then those that add on are pretty staggering. We have thank yous to compose and that takes a while with all the people that contributed to their projects. We are very blessed.
 

John Homecoming

We had a huge milestone this summer. John came home from Houston! The new mission president sent and updated itinerary I did not carefully read as I had logged in my brain and phone the original itinerary from April.So we were late picking John up. No hour of anticipation, just a phone call from Anna while we drove that John was waiting at the airport wondering where we all were. Oh epic mom fail. Another family welcomed him and talked with him while we got there. I got out and went in for my mom hug. The rest of the family waited while we gathered John and loaded up while trying to redirect other family to just meet us down the road at a restaurant. 

In the car not sure of what's going on. 

At the eatery the hugs and reintroductions. 

Seeing grandparents. 

Meeting Jake who wasn't sure about this but was a good sport. I think these two share a lot of similarities as babies. 

Great grandma was excited too. 

After dinner we got some photos. My parents had left earlier to get back to work. 

The crew hopped up on cotton candy and ice cream. 

The temple age kids went to the temple and the rest of  us went to Fred Myers because 105 is too hot to sit in the car. We wandered around for over an hour. 

That weekend Anna and Joey and Harold and Lexi came. It was good to be together. 

After John's homecoming address which was superb talking about the power of Jesus Christ, Joey was ordained by Greg to the Melchizedek priesthood. It was another step forward towards being sealed together. It was so good to be together and worship. 

This is the only picture I got of some of my sons together. Its hard to be the person wanting to take pictures and yet really loving being able to look back on being together. Harold cut the guys hair, he gave Merle a shaved in design he was pretty happy with that. We ate some, we swam at the pool, we visited, the hair cuts happened, John gave a really great talk filling the time with inspiration, faith, and witness of how Jesus Christ improves our life. 
 I love having my children around and interacting with each other. I love seeing who they are becoming and happiness and confidence they have. I love how they joke and counsel with each other. This is a good spot to just be observing as they make their way in the world. We appreciate all the support and help from family and ward members. Life is good and we are very blessed. 

State Officer Addie in DC

Addie had the opportunity to return to Washington DC for a state officer conference. She toured and met FFA leaders from across the country. Her fellow teammates are becoming treasured friends. 

She got to tour the town on these segway vehicles. She highly recommends this as the tour guide gave great commentary and she was able to see all the sights in roughly 2 hours. That takes miles and miles of walking done the traditional way. 

She met with Representative Cliff Bentz. 

State officers from across the country. 

And a meeting with Senator Merkley. 

We are thankful for her new experiences and for her confidence gained through pushing herself in high school. It's good to see her growing and serving in a role she is so well prepared to fill. I will miss her greatly but look forward to watching through Facebook what new things she gets to be part of. Life is good. 
 

calamity summer part 2

We discovered a major mouse problem this summer. The guys have caught over ten in the cars. Thankfully they keep catching them but yuck! A few beets from the garden waiting for eating. 

Lots of mousetraps and lots of peanut butter. The dogs killed all the cats so the mice run free. I see them sometimes when I'm working outside I have calmed my response and don't scream anymore but yuck I still loathe mice. I love that my guys are such good mouse catchers. 

This guy loves his nightly push up rides. I'm so thankful Greg is so committed to keeping strong and hasn't had any major body injuries because of this practice. Jake is helping him stay in shape. He is particularly strong and able to stay on while Greg busts out his 50 + weighted pushups. 

Harold called early one morning to announce he had hit an elk that was crossing the road in a pack. Thankfully he was able to continue to work and was unharmed. That vintage of car is pretty tough. Uncle Matt hit an Elk a week earlier in a similar model was also able to continue to work and was unharmed. With drought and fire the animals are lower this year and these guys are commuting early when the animals are moving from night places to daytime hiding spots. Prayers for safety are real. 

Later that day Aliza called to say she had fallen while walking up cement stairs holding a large #10 can of chili beans. The compression of the can to the stairs sliced her fingers. She got some stiches and went back to work. That had to hurt so bad. 

More Jake. He leaves my lap immediately when dad comes home to go give him loves and to find his phone in his shirt pocket. He is a sweet boy who is learning what each person represents in his life. 

I bought this tractor last fall at an auction before he was born. He has truly enjoyed all the rides the kids offer on it. He is almost able to balance it alone. Soon he will be tall enough to push himself, although that is never as fun as the run arounds Bruce and Merle give. 

My kid pile. Jake was being held by Millie as they went downstairs. They were sticking their tongues out at each other and she slipped and fell. Jake's foot was under her and it got smooshed. We think he cracked a bone just under the big toe. He was a sad boy for a week. As kids do he is healing and adapted. But we had several days of carefully holding Jake in the chair and listening to him cry and cry. 

Alia adjusting her skeletal frame with head gear. I dreaded this but it has been ok. She is diligent and manages it alone. I mostly just remind her to wear it more often when home. 

Mice, broken bones, sickness, orthodontia, car wrecks, injuries etc. We are living in a mortal world and thankfully have time and resources to work through problems. Life is good ad we are blessed amidst the struggle. 

Life right now

Summer has mostly passed. Life goes quickly and slowly. I was asked to speak at my friends funeral. Her family posted these pictures. So many people who shaped my life I have only in memory. It's odd to ask to snap a picture with them in the many interactions that are part of a knowing someone. Yet this lady was an important friend and teacher to my family. So I post her pictures to be part of our family record. She hired my kids to pull weeds with and for her. She was an excellent gardener. I was asked to be her visiting teacher. She was kind and patient to my small children not minding them exploring her house as we visited each month. She provided books for our relief society sisters sharing her great love of words and imagination with her fellow women. She counseled with me when I was a novice relief society leader. She welcomed my kids to her primary class then those same kids to her home to provide the sacrament each sunday for years and years. It was a good relationship of caring for neighbors. She will be missed. I prayed not to cry while speaking- I cried a lot but got through it. I prayed the spirit would take the message to the hearts of the people. I think that happened based on the many comments after. 

I love the roses in my own yard. Again following the instruction from sister page we manage to keep them alive. They are regal in their design and hearty fighters for life. Returning year after year with pungent blossoms. They are beautiful. 

Another year of corn. I'm so thankful the season has been pretty mild. Reed and co are efficient and capable. Reed doesn't talk much he just gets the jobs done. The kids know what is expected and get it done. I continue washing very muddy clothes, dishes, and cooking food to keep the show going.

Another tire repaired and pivot returned to operation. I love this friendship and reliance. This is the good stuff of our family. Working together, doing hard things, and independence. 

Reed doesn't talk much he just gets the jobs done. The kids know what is expected and get it done. I continue washing very muddy clothes, dishes, and cooking food to keep the show going. Jake is so excited when Reed comes home. Reed takes him for a few minutes snuggles and talks to him and heads to work. These are precious moments. Another testament to the power of babies with teenagers. The ability to care and love someone who adores you small increments daily. You become a hero just by walking in the room. 

A few weeks ago I read the thought "you can tell what is important to a mother by what her children do." This made me wonder do my kids know what's important to me? A few days later Addie on her break from her normal maxed out busyness has struggled to know what relaxing is. She spent an afternoon painting cards and then writing them for all she could think of. I love this! I later heard a creator explain "creation is Godly, it heals and focuses our minds." I have felt this. I love that she is finding ways to unwind, connect, and just be. As I hear again and again we miss Addie, I am thinking it's they miss someone caring, someone who is trustworthy to be kind and diligent. We can all strive to care more in our own way. 

Grocery shopping lately means holding a totally asleep baby and navigating a store. Melons are the hardest to manage one handed. They are heavy and awkward to lift and drop. But we get it done. He is sweet. I also learned I'm suppose to lift heavy stuff everyday to stay healthy. I think this qualifies. He is my best heavy thing. And a gift from God. I would be absolutely lost to have no kids at home nad these big kids leaving for real. So for right now I still am doing what I know how taking care of little people and waiting on the big ones to share their adventures. 

Lia is wearing headgear at home to move her upper jaw so her teeth stop crashing into each other. IT is't a big deal just slow pulling over time. There is already movement. However she wanted a picture of her nails she painted before bed one evening. Jake loves the box! It is a magical easy entertainment for him. Merle is doing well with the school stuff. We love when the kids come home.

I went to do some dress shopping and took the younger kids. They enjoyed all the stuff available to buy. A first small intro to consumerism. Something that is so normal now and yet something so foreign to us. It just made me smile at their awe. 

 Life is busy and fast, and slow and sleepy right now. We are preparing for canning season starting maybe tonight after school. We have end of summer activities that get missed by pivots and pumps needing repair. There is sickness with back to school. Hand foot and mouth with the football team. Reed not yet. There are new opportunities- Livy in choir, Millie being the best friend of the kindergarteners. Challenges and successes. We keep living each day small steps that build into weeks, months, and years of growing. Life is good. We are abundantly blessed always.