Christmas 2010 - con't

The major unwrapping event at Nana and Papa's house.....let the drama begin!!!

Meghan was so excited about everything she got!!!

She might have been the ring leader of the screeching!!!

Drew got a new game for his DS...

Ella was talking on Uncle Jory's phone...

while it was still on his pants!!!

Meghan and her special handmade stocking from Aunt Jenyse and the the rest of the crew!!

Mass chaos of...

you guessed it...

American Girl craziness!!!!

*all sorts of excitement erupts at this moment*

I'm uessing it must have been loud!?!?!

note Jory and Mom's faces!!!!

Calyn loves her Emily doll!!!

Meghan and her dearly loved Felicity!!

(for the record, mom, you started all this with the Felicity movie you got her a couple of years ago...

I think I might blame you for the horse addiction, too....Felicity loved her horse, Penny!!!)  LOL!!

Really, a Wii....really!?!?!?!?

I think Drew was totally surprised!!!!

Abbie and her Itty Bitty AG twin doll!!!

These next few of Meghan's expressions are priceless!!!

Aiden and his *ahem* Hawkeye rags...I mean clothes!!

(I'm surprised he was allowed to bring them home!!!)

Meghan's clothing gift...

Beth's clothes....

and Rebecca, her AG doll....

ah, Rebecca, I think there may be a slight wardrobe malfunction....

  

Aiden's new bike...with gears....he's totally ready for spring to get here!!!

Beth's blingy bag!!!!

And, Ella is not to be forgotten about her need for a purse, too!!!!  

She was so proud to be like the big kids!!!

Nana, Meghan and Felicity...Meg is totally in LOVE!!!!

Calyn and her doll Emily and Beth with Rebecca....

I think Rebecca had already had a wardrobe change at this point!!!!

Love the handbags on the shoulders, girls....

  

The newly formed American Girl doll club....

there was giggling, chanting, whispering and all things girly!!!

THE ENTIRE TRIBE OF GIRLY GIRLS......

Ella had to get a birds eye view of me doing the dishes...

 for the record Miss Ella....no other grandchild got away

with this particular stunt at Nana's house...

Well done, child...well done....

I believe we all might have loosened up just a bit!!!

Guess that is what happens by the time the 7th grandchild/son/daughter/niece/nephew

comes along....

Doesn't that always hold true for the youngest?  I think it might at my house....

and I'm pretty sure Bryan got by with WAY more than me growing up!!!!

We were very blessed to spend Christmas with our family!!

The kids always have a wonderful time together...just maybe not long enough!!!

ShellieB

Christmas 2010

This Christmas was especially fun with the kids...there was laughing

screeching, gasping, surprises, shouting and 

most of all...

lots of fun!!!

We started off by going to Christmas Eve service in Stuart on Friday night.  Then, after snacks

at mom and dads, most of us went to the movie "Tangled" at the theater in Stuart.

Big shout out to Uncle Bryan for opening up the theatre for us!!!

The kids were just thrilled to have the whole place to ourselves!!

I give the movie a "two thumbs up"!!!!

We did sleep a little on Friday night and the kids woke up Christmas morning

super excited!!!  

We went to Uncle Bryan and Aunt Jenyse's house for a wonderful brunch...

The hostess with the mostest..... 

The girls had their own table....they have such a fun time together....

Uncle Jory is like a ride at a carnival!!!

These two are quite the buddies!!!

We stuffed our faces and proceeded to move a block to the east 

where the goods were waiting to be opened.

More to come tomorrow...

ShellieB

Happy New Year!!!

Just thought I would share a few photos of the kiddos from November 2010....they were such good sports for me.  

I'll post some photos of Christmas soon!!!

 ~ShellieB

Our baby is growing up.....

Seems like just yesterday...

You were just an adorable baby....talking like crazy from about 9 months old....

And now....

You are growing into a beautiful young girl....5 years old.  

I simply can't belive it!!!

Makes me get choked up just thinking about it....

You have such a kind spirit...it is almost as if you feel another's hurt or sadness.  

You are so in tune to others' feelings....

You notice everything....nothing gets by you!!!

You take forever to make a decision....

you love....butterflies, bananas and peanut butter, cereal, anything chocolate, 

playing "stripe girls" with your sister,

your brother,

you love.....your momma and your dada

You love to have fun and go to school....

You laugh out  loud when you watch Funniest Home Videos!!!!

You are determined.....once you make up your mind....it's done...

like waking up on a Saturday morning and demanding your training wheels be removed from your bike...you just took off!!!!

You are small but mighty!!!!

Then there is the serious side of you.....that wants to know what day God made the butterflies...

Was it the day He made the birds or the day He made the insects, momma?

Like having to pray for anyone you know that is sick or feeling bad....

You love to get dirty and go to the farm with Daddy, 

but you hate to have sticky on your face and hands!!!

You love your dog Chase and Pampa Wayne's farm kitties....

This is how excited you are for your birthday!!!  We're stringing it out as long as we can for ya!!!

We are so blessed to have been given the honor to raise you!!!  You brighten our days

and soften our hearts.  We are so proud of you and know that you are going to do awesome

things as you grow into a young lady!!!

Happy Birthday, Calyn!!!

Love,

Momma

9.20.10

Chopping Silage 101...

Chopping Silage 101

It is a fall ritual (and necessity at our farm) to chop silage.  This makes the "food" that we feed the cattle all winter.  I guess it is a fine "art"....so I'm told.

Many years ago, the local men would go around "chopping" at the neighbors...they all would move from farm to farm and help each other out.  The women would try to out do each others cooking and I guess it was quite an event.  

Fast forward 30 years.....

When we chop at our farm, it takes about 2 days.  Corn that is still a bit green is "chopped" by a....you guessed it....."chopper"....and then the "chopped" corn (stalks and all) is loaded into wagons and hauled to the pit (or pile as some call it).  It is then packed so that it can ferment (you are all jealous of our cows now arentcha!!!!) and then through out the winter it is fed to the cattle.  

About January, it smells absolutely marvelous!!!!!!!!  

This year was kind of exciting because we had our own chopper.  Jory and his cousin drove to Illinois a few weeks ago and brought it home.  It worked really well....no breakdowns.  

It takes several guys to get this job done....one to run the chopper, 3 or so to haul, one at the pit to help unload the wagons and one guy to pack the pit.  I had the honor of feeding these boys for two days....it takes a bit of creativity to create a hearty, portable, self serve lunch let me tell ya!!!  I had it ready for Jory in the morning and he took it to the shop.....crock pots are a must around these parts!!!

Anyway, here are a few photos that hopefully give you a little sense of what is happening.....

You have to have pretty good aim with this stuff....

Cloud o' silage

Jeff's tractor decorations....

Supervisor....

Jory is packing the pit, the road curving behind leads through the pasture to the field.  In the distance you can see the tractor waiting to go fill, and then the others out in the field...

Dumping at the pit...

RRRRRRRoughage.....mmmmmmmmmm

So there is your farming lesson of the day....you can chew on that one a bit....

Until next time....

ShellieB

I miss blogging.....

OK, its true.  I do miss blogging for some reason.  Like I really need one more thing to do!!!  Somehow it is therapeutic though.  Like journaling, preserving memories.

I forces me to reflect and to document.  I find that I can remember events better, see the beauty in the little things better, care more about the important things.....

So, here we go.....

The kids are back in school and loving.every.minute!!!!  I am so glad and so very proud of them!!!  I'll share a few photos of their first days.......

Aiden and Meghan started on August 30th....

Calyn started on September 1st.....she looks so grown up.....

Third grader.....

First Grader.....

Pre Kindergartener....

 
Looking forward to a great year!!!!!!!  We'll keep you all posted on what's going on with us!!!!

ShellieB