Silly Saturday

...just a few things from today.

-7am oldest thinks she has to puke, she doesn't, we go back to bed
-took kids to choir practice
-had girlfriend over for a short chat
-got stood up by a customer
-customer called back, he wants to meet me in 7 minutes at the gas station
-bailed on friend to run to said customer to meet him on time
-said customer decided he couldn't pay me all the money he owed and paid only half
-I let him get away with it
-picked up my nephews
-dropped them off at home and went to get my book I forgot at choir practice
-got home and heard something next to me, I saw something move and freaked out, it was one of our cats, she had stowed away in the van
-ate a gingerbread cookie, first "meal of the day"
-got a call about our baby crib
-asked husband to get baby crib ready
-got upset
-cried
-husband hugged me
-husband solved the problem
-got out split pea soup of the freezer for dinner, thawed it
-ate 2nd meal of the day, yes another cookie
-called a bunch of customers who owed me money to make up for earlier
-lady came to pick up crib for a 15 year old mother
-split pea soup is actually refried beans, kids ate beans and chips for dinner
-close by customer came over to pay his bill
-took kids and nephews to church
-home again, home again, jiggity jig
(maybe I should feed myself proper food now)

A moment in time

Wanting to capture every precious moment of what my kids do, I still don't do it. I have a blog, therefore I'll write some of it here.

Youngest is developing her personality quite a bit lately...lots of words being said, lots of stealing of other people's food and lots of fits...

...however.

When she pets the dog on the porch she says over and over, "who's gonna miss you when I'm gone? who's gonna miss you when I'm gone? who's gonna miss you when I'm gone?" and the dog enjoys the attention.

When she "plays" with the baby goats she grabs their collar and yanks them where she likes and chases them with wooden stakes and sometimes hits them....then she gets in trouble.

She bites 2nd youngest if she makes her mad.

When I come home she runs to me and says, "mama, you came home! I missed you!"

She goes outside and gets dirty, every time. She sneaks out even, she loves it out there.

When we have any milk left from the goat's milk bottle she'll drink it if we aren't watching.

Last year she'd sneak into the chicken coop and this year she sneaks into the doe's pen even though they are 3x her size. She loves to hang out with them.

2 days ago I was on the phone and looked outside. She'd gotten out of the bath and gone out and was chasing chickens...naked...on the side of the fence with a VERY good view for the neighbors and all of their kids.

Last night we went to our friend's goat farm. She has many many goats. We discovered she really enjoys going up to each doe and pinching her teat. Not sure if it's to piss her off or to try to milk her. Either way it's funny.

She gets in my bed early early in the morning and snuggles with me and says, "I love you mama."

She wakes me up later and says, "Mama, it's morning, I have to go potty, you have to make me cereal."

We leave my sister's house and she says, "I had so much fun at Aunt B's house."

She drives me crazy. She loves life. She loves animals. She loves me. I love her.

Chicks, bees, baby goats and Pascha

It's amazing.

You look at things you take for granted and you don't notice them until you start farming.

Like "kicking the bucket" we realized where that got the name REAL QUICK! When that goat (or cow) kicks over that bucket of milk you worked so hard to get, you want to slit it's throat and stick it in the freezer.

This article was not what I expected when I typed "Easter Lamb" into google. But this man is Greek Orthodox and describes how his Paschal Lamb is so much a part of him. Lambs (and goats) are born in the spring and at one year old they are at their biggest that you want to let them get before they begin to get tough. Thus giving us the Easter Lamb or an Easter Kid.

The hatching eggs went into the incubator last night. There are 45 total the children are excited as is my husband (me too I suppose). I am looking forward to having some special Black Copper Maran chicks as my own in 20 days from now. It seems the perfect thing to do during Lent, hatch out chicks for the spring.

My husband ordered his bees last week. They will be here in April and we will set up our first hive. Just one this year. My husband will be in an apprenticeship with a friend and he's letting us borrow the hive for the first year to see how we like it.

Our larger Nubian goat is due on April 15th. The girls go into heat in the fall and then you can try to time them to kid when it's best for you. They have to be dried up 2 months before kidding, so Lent seemed a good time to have little to no milk. I think we'll dry up the other one too since she will kid in June but I really wanted my daughter to have a good period of time off so that she would not have to milk 2x per day. I'd like her to be antsy to start when one of them kids and that should happen with a good break. We have thought about raising a male kid up for next year's Pascha feast. We shall see.

It's amazing how our food cycle actually used to revolve around what food was being produced at that time of year. I've already seen that with the garden but it's so much more apparent when you add animals to the mix. It's sad more people don't get to experience that. I'm glad our family is just beginning to learn it.

My Silly Fran

Five years ago today (early in the morning) I had another girl. 3 girls and 2 boys. We were happy to have her, this would give Em a playmate and we gave the girls the larger bedroom. She was sort of Native Alaskan looking, I had people ask me if my husband was Japanese. Nope, just a white baby with slanty eyes. Much different than my first with HUGE eyes, they are still huge, when I have to look in her eye I'm impressed by the enormity of her eyeballs. My mom told me that people thought I was a native baby too, so I guess she gets that from me. Being super chubby didn't help either, but I don't know how to have skinny babies as they have all been in the 8-10 pound range, the girls all 9 and up.


She is funny: When she was two and we had a single older guy over sitting at the table, and she farted while in the kitchen near me. Very audible. She says, "Mama!" That's only the tip of the iceberg. Her humor is dry and so funny it's hard to explain. She jokes when you don't expect it and she knows she's joking. One day in town I missed yet another turn and I said to myself, "where's my brain?!" What does she say but, "I have it mama." I about drove off the road laughing. It's so hard to explain her tone, but she said it seriously enough with that small smirk.

She is repentant: I have taken to just sending her to her room when she cries and doesn't like what I told her to do. She obeys and walks down the stairs crying/screaming. With some of the kids their attitudes have to be dealt with differently, but she's usually genuinely distraught. I say, "come back when you can play nicely" and about 5 minutes later I have a little girl beside me saying, "I'm sorry mama! I'm sorry that I cried at you." And all is good. Today I said something about learning not to change our minds so much when we grow up, and being her birthday she said later, "Mama, I'm not going to change my mind so much anymore."

She is sweet: When she goes to bed she has a required kissing method. I don't know how long it's been this way but a couple of years I think. She has to kiss us on both cheeks and then we have to kiss her on both of hers, then she goes to bed.

Her favorite food is (and I quote) "one: lasagna, two: spaghetti, three: mac & cheese". But I know for certain that bagels and cream cheese are also very high on her list as is mayonnaise and sour cream. She just likes white creamy dips. I bribed her to eat hard boiled eggs with a spoon of mayo, it works.

She is kind: She's unfortunately picked on by some of the older kids sometimes, or rather her kindness is taken advantage of. I don't like to see that, but I don't want to teach her to fight back either. Just to ask nicely and try that. I have had another very meek child (a son) and at one point I had to teach him to punch back because he had to stop crying to me when he got punched, but with her I'm not eager to do that and she's not a boy. Even her little sister picks on her sometimes. She's learned if she screams loud enough that we come to investigate and usually can sort things out.

Because of her kindness she's the kind of child that you love to please. She gets excited over the littlest cutest things. I'm so happy for her to have such simple happiness.

She is smart: She forces us to help her with math (first grade Saxon), and by forces she asks nicely over and over and over and over...she can't read quite yet (working on that) so one of us has to read the instructions to her. She's also started picking at the piano and she's playing some songs by ear and also making up her own melodies that are quite lovely. Half the time I have to look to see who's playing because I keep thinking it's her big brother who does the same thing.

She inspired this name for my blog, she named her dog (stuffed) Silly and her other dog Silly Junior.

I'm so happy to have this girl in my life. It would not be the same with out her.

 

dancing the day away on Pascha

seriously hilarious

TMI alert. Birth story for baby #5.

I was asked by Tammy Smith, one of my midwifes apprentices and now "her own" midwife in Palmer if I could write a birth story for her website. I'm not big on talking about body parts and fluids, at least not on here, so it's fairly clean. I might be embarrassed a bit if I knew any male friends read it, but it won't kill me if they do. It's a fact of life, just don't tell me if you do (and you're a man).

I have not posted on here for so long and it's part of our family's history anyway so I'll post it here and send to her. Here is Tammy's link: heartsongmidwifery.com and then the link for my totally kick ass midwife, the one and only Kirsten Gerrish with Pioneer Midwifery now located in the "barns" across from the new hospital on the Parks Hwy: midwife.net Now I'm torn, do I have my next baby in the barn just so that special child can say, "Indeed, I was born in a barn." Or do I have another cozy home birth? I suppose I can wait and decide when and if we have another.  Here goes...

So, Tammy... You’d like a birth story? Which one? I have not birthed as many as you but I do have 6 to choose from.

I’ll just start with the fact that they were all hard but wonderful at the same time. Some longer than others, some at a birthing center and some at home. My midwife, Kirsten, has delivered the last 4 of mine and has a very special place in our hearts.

One of my quicker ones was the 5th. Or was it the 4th? Now that I think about it I may be blurring the two together. We had our last three girls at home, I do remember more people were there at my 4th and not as many “spectators” came to the 5th. I’ll write it as if it’s my 5th.

The hubbub of calling everyone to your house at 4am-ish can sometimes interrupt your regularly-scheduled-contractions. They had been a good 10 minutes apart or I would not have called in the troops. Kirsten got her gear all set up, oxygen tank in the corner for “just in case”. Hubby filled the nice big jet tub in our bathroom. I was hoping to try for a water birth this time like I’d had with our 2 boys (numbers 2 and 3). My husband had installed it just for me for our first girl born at home, but I never had a chance to use it. When the babysitter arrived and they were up there greeting her and getting everyone settled into their couches I quickly hung a picture in our bedroom that was intended to go up before I had the baby. I put a shirt over the nail to try to muffle the sound and got it in and the picture up before they came down and took the hammer away from the crazy pregnant lady. I wanted it up before I had the baby, the room had just been finished and it had to be perfect. I knew this one was going to be a girl as I had peaked earlier when I was finishing our downstairs. I wanted to know weather I needed the big room for the “girls” room or the “boys” room. I’d made a special pretty rose quilt for the cradle in the corner of our room and matching bumper pads. I'd been in a partly sheetrocked room for so long, this was the bedroom of my dreams.

Well clearly I was not having a baby any time soon, so the ladies went back upstairs to take some naps and my husband and I laid back down to settle me so the contractions might begin again. They came back steadily and I’d open my eyes to look at the digital clock to see how long apart they were, I don’t remember now, but I slept between them. Then, my water broke. This surprised me, since only once before had it broken on it’s own. And then I needed to push - bad, it was very sudden. One moment I was trying to sleep between contractions and the next I needed to push. My husband had to run and wake the midwives and when they came back down asked if I wanted to get in the tub? NO, I'm PUSHING! I grabbed onto his robe tight, he's right there for me, I think I'd miss him if he caught the baby, he says all the right things. This birth he was in pain right along beside me. Reason? Apparently when I grabbed his robe I grabbed is right nipple and twisted along with the robe. Kirsten’s apprentice was the only other person that noticed his pain and had to cringe herself. He appreciated that someone knew what he was going through as well. My super human strength was still not too much for him to bear and he was silent and supportive.

Pushing is like an extremely intense work out. Put the chin down and make the low grunts or none if you’re really good. In my head I can see the uterus squeezing in on that baby and I can help it by pushing hard. For the last two babies I realized that if I think of myself as very strong and them telling me it helps sooooo much. It hurts, but it will be over soon. First push is over, waiting between contractions can sometimes be the hardest part, and it’s so close. Second push HARD and out comes her head, AHHH what a relief. Wait for the next one, push and then her body. It’s OVER!!!! The most amazing feeling I have ever felt is right after the baby comes out. Pure exhilaration. You are so excited to see this new person and most of the time we forget to check the sex. When I was at my friend’s homebirth the midwife asked her husband, “what is it?” and he exclaimed, “It’s a baby!” What an amazing feeling. It’s almost like it’s a surprise to us every time even though you know what you’re doing it for, you almost can’t believe there’s someone new.

Like the rest of my kids she was in the 9 lb range. She was so chubby. I don’t really think newborns are particularly cute or pretty. They are mushed up and slimy but oh so perfect because when I have a new baby on my chest that means that it’s OVER! Now I can rest with my brand new infant that my totally awesome self delivered. I feel like a superstar afterward and it’s such an amazing feeling to know you have accomplished it. My family is proud of me and my midwife is always impressed. What a great feeling.
The following week is never peaches and cream, but getting to know the new baby is the best part. And soon when they make even a peep you just want to grab them up and cuddle them; they make you feel so good.

Kids just woken up so they could see their new sister, except oldest, she got to watch.

It's beginning to feel a lot like winter.

My husbands two brothers and their families flew in on Saturday. 

Yesterday we went to his sister's house and got to visit with them all and their parents, their younger brother who still lives at home and all the cousins got to play.  (There are 16 now)

I don't know how they do it, but they always just fall back into their jesting, fun ways.  Even us in-laws can sometimes come up with a joke or two.  Nothing like them, they just have no fear of being goofy and it makes them all the more fun to be around. 

We laughed and ate and laughed until midnight when I finally caved and said we had to go.  That didn't stop the party, however, they were just getting going with margaritas and a game of rummy.

I'm excited because on Thursday we'll go back for a delicious Thanksgiving, but we're mostly looking forward to just being with the whole family all day long.

Today we were supposed to go make cookies at grandma's house with all the girl cousins, but it RAINED and turned into ice when it hit the ground, then kept raining all day.  The ditches were full of cars and people were encouraged to stay home. 

I decided to make the mashed potatoes I would bring on Thursday.  We also baked the rest of the cookie dough, made rice, heated up our left over beans, and made a few extra potatoes for us today.  I realized that if we were having an "ice" day we should celebrate with the caramel corn my mom used to make, so I made a double batch.  We watched a movie with the kids and after that we moved the piano across the room to give up that space to the new hearth that our friend is installing tomorrow.  The new wood stove is paid for and is still at the store waiting for me.  It has a sign on it that says SOLD and my name under it.  It makes my heart flutter.  I have wanted a wood stove for YEARS and we're finally so close. 

I forget sometimes how much I enjoy the winter, especially this time of year.  Thanksgiving has sometimes been a struggle trying to pinpoint our "tradition" because it really has been so different from year to year.  But if his brothers keep coming up for it, we'll be there.

I'm thankful for family, his and mine.  And for my own family.  God has really blessed me.

Sunday

My friend, Melissa @ Finding Joy in the Journey just told me how to fix my comments posting.  YAY!  Thanks for the tip.

I also found out over the weekend that she's another kindred spirit when it comes to hiding out on Oct. 31.  It's not a super big deal to me, but we use our freedom of choice to not celebrate this day along with the Druids (witches) and it doesn't make us special or better than anyone else.  It's hard to explain to people who see nothing wrong with it...  For them it's just a fun holiday, they don't practice witch craft and I don't hold it against them.  They can sometimes get defensive and that's really hard to explain.  So I typically don't discuss it if I don't have to. 

Yesterday my sister decided to FINALLY have her little baby #3 at home after being over 2 weeks overdue.  It was a nice distraction.  We took the family over to see them after she had him at home around 3 in the afternoon on a cold and windy day.  Her house was so warm and her bed was set up in the living room near the wood stove.  He was wrapped in the softest blanket and was so tiny and warm.  Mine have never been that small.  I was so happy for her that she was finally done...I swear it's the best feeling in the world to know labor is over and you have a perfect baby to enjoy.  Our kids stayed in the car as they were just so tired after being up the day before then pretty much all night and then again that whole day.  I'm so happy for them.  I did get that little itch when I was holding him.  I wonder how long we can hold out not having to scratch it.

Introductions

I was looking through my pictures tonight trying to spice up this blog...a blog is just not as fun unless it has good pictures!  I came across some great ones of my funny kids and decided to share some.  Blogger's lay out drives me a little crazy and I lost some pics trying to arrange them...but you get the picture. ;-)

Youngest to oldest. 

Suz

 The Fran

Sweet Em

Max to the Most

 Smiley Aid

Energetic K

My birthday & my house

Well, I'm 34 today.....woop woop!!!  I know, the year to party hearty!  It was fun, we did a mini Oktoberfest here with just a few friends.  No beer wench costumes were worn.  Perhaps next year... 

We did, however, have plenty of beer, brats, mustard, sauerkraut and apples.   YUM!  My husband even snuck home early from church (when I say early, really I mean that while I was blabbing to everyone and their brother he simply came home) and he made his own version of "death-by-chocolate" brownies which were very good!  We have been married 14 years and I don't remember him baking anything.  I was very impressed and it was so thoughtful, it really made my day.  My oldest child also sneakily made a bowl of JELLO for me, so sweet.

I don't think I've posted a thing about our recent trip with hehem NO KIDS to Hawaii...  Just bliss.  Well, not really totally bliss.  See, I have a gift, and that is with finding fault with pretty much everything.  It's not a gift really....well you get the point.  So there were a few "not perfect" things, however, what was lacking on this trip??  Complete lack of any work.  None.  No changing diapers, no runny noses, no cooking, no trying to figure out what to make for dinner, or lunch, or breakfast, no mailboxes, no laundry even...the most work I did was hanging up our wet beach towels on the line.  I enjoyed it, and I'm still enjoying it just remembering it.  I have wanted to go to Hawaii since I was 12 and now I have.  Of course I can't wait to take the kids there now...

Since I've been home the weather has been nasty cold and windy.  I'm still pretty miffed about our crappy weather "summer", but the house got painted in the end (hired a painter) and that was my main final "project" that had to be done.  I'd done all the canning, sauerkraut making and putting up of veggies I was going to do before we left and so now the chickens are enjoying what little remains of our garden.  Yesterday I buttoned up the yard as best as I could and cleaned out and re-organized the garage.  If I don't do the garage once every week or so it won't stay looking nice, but it really only gets done about once every 6 months and then a few pitching fits in between.  For now it looks BEAUTIFUL, as much as a garage can anyhow.

I decided I'd like to work one room at a time (again) and get rid of things (again) because when ever I do this I don't feel that urgent need for an addition to our 5 bedroom home.  It's very functional and I have friends who have far less and so I'm grateful for my wonderful finished home.  I just have to keep it tidy and purged in order to enjoy it (and use it) properly.  It's my business office our schoolroom our sleeping quarters our kitchen, living, dining, running, playing, milling, cheese making, bread baking, canning, piano playing, movie watching, dancing, art work making, scrapbooking, sewing, papa's working, dressing, storing, and-so-much-more space.  This is magnified with the cold weather keeping children indoors.  It's amazing all that you do in a home and all the crap...err, stuff you need....err, want for all of that.  Thank you Lord for my home.  I love it and especially after having friends with much less and friends who have lost theirs to fire I am SO grateful for my wonderful very nice home.  I realize that God can easily test me and I could loose it all tomorrow.  I really hope I'm not up for that sort of test.  I'm grateful for what He's given me to take care of....my home, my family.  Hawaii is a great place to visit.......but there's no place like home.