a beautiful farm
overheard (mostly elsie quotes...)
Me: Do you want some ham? Elsie: "No that will make way me too chilly! I need cheese!"
Ivar: "Elsie! You are way too noisy! I am trying to cut with scissors right now!"
Elsie: "Mom, for my birthday, my DREAM would be two cans of chicken noodle soup."
Elsie: Mom. In the new earth, the one with no sin or sickness or stuff like that...I'm never going to wash my own dishes, okay?
mara's cross country meet
Mara got to hold Alden as her prize. I think he's thinking deeply here about how he still needs to learn how to sit up, roll over, crawl and walk before he can even imagine running. There is a lot ahead of that little boy.
And below is Mara, holding her 7th place cowbell! She did amazing. Seriously, her strides were huge the whole way. Her legs are incredible and we all were very, very proud. We love you Mara!
Also. You are growing up so beautifully. I love you to pieces and cannot believe how fast time is flying by. Let's have another sleep over. Love, Aunt Bec
I don't want to forget...
I still have a few books I want to share, but first I have a few things to write down that I just don't want to forget!
1. Ivar came yelling down the stairs on Friday night before bedtime, "I just made a MEMORY!!!" And then he explained how he was brushing his top teeth and this front tooth fell out, bounced on the counter and fell down between the counter and wall. We will likely find it if we ever renovate that bathroom. He truly did loose his tooth!
Also, the fact that he said he made a memory made me SO PROUD that he is my son.
His other front tooth is also very loose and has moved over to center stage and his smile is awesome right now. Just one tooth in the front, swaying back and forth.
2. Hattie's had a bad dream the other night and Rory could not console her. So he called me in and I held her in the rolling office chair next to her crib while Rory sat on the floor and kept his hands on her. I sang, "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, there's just something about that name..." and Rory prayed for Hattie as she cried and whimpered and heaved her sad breaths out until she finally fell back asleep. She is a sweet one, and I love that Rory and I are a united front when it comes to that little girl.
3. When we drive from town back to our farm we can see our barn and field and I'll say, "boy that sure is a pretty farm. Look at those sheep in that orchard. That's a lucky family who gets to live there..." and Elsie shouts excitedly from the backseat every time, "Mom! That's actually our farm! We are the family who gets to live there!!"
4. And while I'm thinking about our car, I once told the kids I was sorry I didn't have a snack for them while we were driving to another destination. They said, "oh, it's okay! We have our bagels from church back here!" I said they must be pretty hard by now, but they said not if they dunk them in their water. Then a few days later I said I wish I had brought their sweatshirts and they said, "oh we keep them in the car now!" Another time I didn't have cash for a garage sale and they both said, "we have our money holders!" So recently I scoped out the way back seat and sure enough. They basically have it set up as a little locker room. They will never be unprepared.
5. I continue to tell others that I liken Alden to a goldfish. I feed him every three hours and once in a while change his...water. The kid is so, so chill. His whole disposition is, "happy to be here, mom. thanks for having me. let me know when you have a minute. it's okay if you don't." He is positively adored by the five members of his family and has no lack of attention and love. I would be interested in what percentage of my day is spent getting pillows and siblings set up so they can hold Alden. It's a good chunk of the day.
the farmer's market
It was that last line that I thought was so fitting 12 years later. Rory has more ideas that anyone I know. And I have things for us to talk about until our dying day. So we worked together making signs, pricing items, deciding how we'd hang everything for display. It was a blast.
It actually felt quite a bit like a high school group project, except Rory and I were in a group with a newborn and one-year-old. I told him that my entire group project history is filled with the teacher taking me aside before announcing the groups and saying, "Becca, I am putting so-and-so in your group because I know you are kind and will be able to help him succeed." I could name every project and every kid if you'd like. But apparently all of those experiences led me to this ultimate challenge: four children and a booth of chickens and crafts. :)
I don't think we'll do this every Saturday. But we definitely can see signing up for special events and creating crafts to suit the event. Our town has a Winter Walk in December and our brains are spinning for what we could bring and sell to that event. Life is fun. Rory is fun. It was a great anniversary.
Bubble Wrap Girl
The week before Alden was born we got a book in the mail from her. And lo and behold it wasn't just any book. It was a book with HER NAME ON IT. Kari wrote it and this book is darling. My kids love it and we have read it many, many times.
The story shows how problematic this actually is, as the bubble wrap always gets in the way. So she decides to be brave, even if it means risking an injury. As Kari wrote on her own blog, "if I can do anything to inspire someone to be brave, to go after what is good, right and beautiful in the world, rather than sit along the sidelines or settle for what society says is the way things will be, I want to do it." And isn't it sweet that the story in her book about Izzy, and the very fact that Kari PUBLISHED HER OWN BOOK (!!!) both have the very same motivating message for me: join in. Be brave. Do it.
You can buy Bubble Wrap Girl on Amazon, online at Barnes and Noble and at itascabooks.com
The Relatives Came
The book tells of one family visiting their relatives during the summer. And there isn't much more that happens than that. The family eats together, sleeps together, works together, plays together. They all love each other as the pictures clearly show. It's family at its best. And I adore this book. One Christmas I bought six copies and gave it to every cousin family of Ivar's.
book week!
We'll begin today. Have you ever read anything by Patricia Polacco?!! She is brand new to me, but clearly not new to the world of children's publishing. She has over 100 books out there!! I randomly discovered one of her books from a trip to the library and it was all about a Family Reunion called When Lightening Comes in a Jar. The story was so pleasing to me. It lifted up the importance of family traditions and hearing the same stories over and over again and listening to the older generation. I just loved it.
So I did an author search at our library and requested every book in our library system by Patricia Polacco. I have been reading her books all month and they do not disappoint.
She is the author and illustrator and the books are largely stories taken from her own life or her ancestors. They all focus on the importance of family or other close relationships and I am absolutely in love.
My top favorites:
Fiona's Lace. I cried. And then when I retold the story to Rory I cried again.
An A from Miss Keller. All about the hardest teacher in the school and having to work hard but feeling grateful after. Also made me cry.
The Mermaid's Purse. All about good books and community.
Clara and Davie. About young Clara Barton who founded the American Red Cross.
Mr. Wayne's Masterpiece. Her story of being too shy to read in front of her class and the teachers that helped her overcome her stage fright.
Tucky Jo and Little Heart. Incredible. You will hardly believe the ending.
I am so glad she has 100 more books for me to read! They are long and have a lot of text. The pictures are captivating, mostly because you know this is what these people actually looked like...they are characters from her own life. And her storytelling is masterful. I hope she writes 100 more.
So enjoy! There is no need to have to have kids to read these books! I read many after bedtime to myself. They ring of what is right and good and true. They're a breath of fresh air.
lake city
Alden and I were, in fact, on this trip, but I don't have any pictures of us! Ha! But aren't these darling of the others? My kids are getting so big and it catches me off guard. Like every day.
We played at the playground and ate incredible donuts. And most hilariously, we took a picture (that must be on Rory's phone) while eating the donuts and gathered on one side of the picnic table. Which lifted the other side of the picnic table high into the air. Somehow we didn't tip completely on our backs, but it was so close. And slow motion. We laughed hard after the fact. Then we went out for lunch and then got on the Pearl of the Lake, a big paddle boat that takes you around Lake Pepin for 2 hours. It was an unusual fallish day for early August and windy on the boat. But it was nice to be on the water. I'd say we would love LOVED it if it was a one hour boat ride. ;)
quick! before church!
Sunday morning we all ended up wearing some sort of blue in our outfit and I wanted a picture of me and the kids before we loaded in the minivan. So we got all lined up, but then Richard the chicken came walking by and Hattie doesn't really like chickens after our big grey rooster charged at her when she unknowingly cornered him into the raspberries. So Richard came walking by and Hattie started to panic and these are the best pictures Rory captured of that morning. In the end, they are pretty much more true and honest of my time with my kids than all four kids and me smiling at the camera.
grandma's gladiolas
My mom arranged gladiolas for competition again this year at the State Fair in the horticultural building. I used to do this with her before I started having kids...and one day I hope to join back in. Largely for the fair food and the excuse to get to be at the fair for two days. But also because I love the creativity you get to tap into as you play with beautiful flowers.
After the Flower Show, my mom will bring many of her arrangements home, take them apart (the bottom flowers on the glads are often dead) and then make new arrangements to give away. But even better, she brings all the supplies for her grandkids to make their own arrangements.
Ivar made his in a dump truck, so I think that's why Elsie made hers in a wagon... But they loved playing with the oasis (the green foam that you stick flowers in, filled with water to keep them alive) and were very, very proud of their gorgeous creations.
And Alden was just happy to see grandma and tell her all about his day.
"you look great. and no one is going to remember you."
This week is Jesse James Days. Actually, it's THE DEFEAT of Jesse James Days, since you wouldn't want to glorify the bad guy. Last night was Townie Night, where all of the food vendors open for the evening and the weekend begins.
I asked Ivar on Wednesday if he wanted to do the Tractor Peddle. I think that's what it's called. The thing where the kids peddle a little tractor that has a weighted wagon and see how far they can get. The kids who get the farthest get a trophy. Everyone get a can of pop. We have watched this event the last two years and I thought he might want to participate this year. He said, "I think I'd be too embarrassed having all those people watch me."
So I told him about how I spent way too much of my childhood caring way too much about what other people thought. But that when I became an adult, I realized that no adults cared if I did or didn't do something. Adults are actually cheering on every kid just for trying. My concern about what others would think was all in my head. I said to Ivar, "the funny thing about the tractor peddle is that no one is going to remember you. Think about it. Do you remember a single kid who did the tractor peddle from the last few years that we watched? I don't remember anyone! Except that one kid who cried so hard because he got nervous and I felt terrible for him. So as long as you don't cry, and you just try it, you'll get your pop and can be proud that you were brave and tried it."
He decided to do it. And was nervous all afternoon before we left. He went up to put on a clean shirt and had trouble picking which one because as he said, "I want to look nice but I don't want to be remembered."
So he chose a blue shirt and his favorite black shorts and wore his new tennis shoes and john deere hat. As we went downstairs I told him, "you look great. and no one is going to remember you."
He did great. He peddled hard and it was heavy. His pull put him right in the middle of the pack of 6 year olds. He got his Dr. Pepper that we let him drink at 7pm. He was proud and I was more proud. And guess what? I will remember him. And how fun it was to watch him be brave.
I asked Ivar on Wednesday if he wanted to do the Tractor Peddle. I think that's what it's called. The thing where the kids peddle a little tractor that has a weighted wagon and see how far they can get. The kids who get the farthest get a trophy. Everyone get a can of pop. We have watched this event the last two years and I thought he might want to participate this year. He said, "I think I'd be too embarrassed having all those people watch me."
So I told him about how I spent way too much of my childhood caring way too much about what other people thought. But that when I became an adult, I realized that no adults cared if I did or didn't do something. Adults are actually cheering on every kid just for trying. My concern about what others would think was all in my head. I said to Ivar, "the funny thing about the tractor peddle is that no one is going to remember you. Think about it. Do you remember a single kid who did the tractor peddle from the last few years that we watched? I don't remember anyone! Except that one kid who cried so hard because he got nervous and I felt terrible for him. So as long as you don't cry, and you just try it, you'll get your pop and can be proud that you were brave and tried it."
He decided to do it. And was nervous all afternoon before we left. He went up to put on a clean shirt and had trouble picking which one because as he said, "I want to look nice but I don't want to be remembered."
So he chose a blue shirt and his favorite black shorts and wore his new tennis shoes and john deere hat. As we went downstairs I told him, "you look great. and no one is going to remember you."
He did great. He peddled hard and it was heavy. His pull put him right in the middle of the pack of 6 year olds. He got his Dr. Pepper that we let him drink at 7pm. He was proud and I was more proud. And guess what? I will remember him. And how fun it was to watch him be brave.
labor day 2017
Today we loaded the four kids up and took off for Ikea. Rory drove the truck and I drove the minivan so we could bring home a table for homeschooling. So far we have done our lessons on a folding table and I've had dreams of Rory building me a custom table since last spring. But it never was built so I found one at Ikea that would do the trick.
Before we left Rory informed me that the cost of gas would be $22 for this 2-vehicle, round trip excursion. He's always full of fun facts like that!
So we drove to Ikea. Our minivan was rocking out to Days of Elijah, my kids very favorite song since family Bible camp. We listened to this version from youtube on repeat. For 45 minutes. There's no God like Jehovah!
We arrived at Ikea at 11:00 with the rest of Minnesota. But we were in this. I actually love a good crowd. My Fear Of Missing Out is completely cured in a crowd because when we're milling about "like ants on a dropped ice cream cone" as Rory put it, you are definitely not missing out. You are in it.
So we wound our way around the top floor of the store, stopping to look at tables and chairs and Ivar cried that he felt unsafe with all the people and did I know where Hattie was? And why do you like this place? I told him it is good that he now knows he doesn't like big crowds and to be grateful we hadn't brought him to the State Fair.
We made it to lunch and found out that as long as you spend $100 in purchases (like a table!), Ikea would cover your lunch, up to the same amount. You can only imagine the mayhem. The family in front of Rory bought a $104 lunch! Honestly, I'm impressed. The Swedish meatball meal is only $4.99. You would have to really work hard to get to $104. Rory bought $35 worth of chicken strips, meatballs, drinks, cheesecake, ginger cookies and spaghetti. I nursed Alden, everyone ate a good meal and Ivar said maybe he did like Ikea.
So we rallied. We went downstairs for Ikea Round 2 and found a whole lot of things we never knew we needed and put them in our cart. About half way through Hattie started yelling "all done! all done!" from the cart and we fed her bits of ginger cookie to keep her quiet.
Finally we got to the area with the ginormous ceiling fans and found aisle 17, bin 25 and grabbed two cardboard boxes that held our future homeschool chairs. Then we went to aisle 24 and found bin 22. And it was empty. Our table was sold out. The one that we drove an extra vehicle to pick up. The one that was going to tip our receipt over $100 so Ikea would buy our lunch.
So Rory left to find a worker just to be sure, Alden stretched and kicked his legs on a tall stack of big brown boxes, Hattie was strategically fed another whole ginger cookie, Elsie sang a happy song to herself while dangling her feet on flat boxes and Ivar cried that he never wanted to come here again. I think most people were thinking the same thing.
So we got in line to pay for the chairs and the impulse buys in our cart and the lines were crazy long. Alden was fussy so I brought him and Ivar and Elsie over to the exit where there were couches facing each other. We all sat on one couch and people watched. Lots of people came and went on the other couch facing us. But at the very end there were three people who took a seat. And I think they had special needs, though I'm not totally sure. But there was something a little off. Lots of snuggling and for a while napping. But then the girl got her phone out and cued up the camp classic, "Baby Shark." She put it on speaker phone as loud as it went and as the verses played she joyfully did all the hand actions like the best camp counselor I've seen. "Mama shark duh, duh. Duh, duh, duhduh." She smiled and bounced as she opened and puckered her fingers for grandpa shark. And we just stared, watching the whole, entire song. Maybe we shouldn't have. But I think she was fine with the audience. And you would have stared too. Plus, it was basically the best thing that had happened to us all day.
We loaded the minivan and there was another special request for Days of Elijah. Shocker. Again we sang the 8 minute song on repeat with Judy Jacobs all the way home, "Behold he comes! Riding on the clouds!" And then I asked God to redeem our day. The kids wanted to know what redeem meant, and I told them that God can take our wasted time and effort and restore it. To make the day count for something.
When I got out of the car Rory commented that when I first asked him to build a table I had elaborate plans. But when he saw what I was wanting at Ikea, those tables were way simpler to build and he'd be happy to build one like that. We got out a tape measure and we talked through the perfect length. Then he drove to Menards. He's been working since supper and just moments ago he finished the most perfect home school table, custom for our space. It won't be ready for our first day of school tomorrow because I want to paint it, but I love it.
So the day was redeemed. By Jehovah. And a baby shark. And a good husband who calculates the cost of gas to Ikea and takes his wife there anyway.
corn roast 2017
When each clan arrived we sent them on a family scavenger hunt. We used Bible Verses as the clues to direct them to the next destination. And once they arrived at a destination there was a family mission they had to accomplish. For my own sake, I'll post the scripture and missions in another post so I can use them again sometime. It was a fun way to introduce everyone to our farm and people seemed to enjoy the family missions.
When each family arrived we asked them to guess the weight of the rutabaga we had just picked from the garden. Each family had to make a group guess and the winners were the Ring family below. Guess what they won? The 11.8 pound rutabaga!
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