Funny things kids say and a few photos

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Funny things kids say and a few photos

So, I think the boys are understanding English pretty well these days. Then funny things happen. It is the small underlying meanings, double meanings and descriptive words that get them. I tend to just speak adult talk to the kids and find that I am having to define words left and right. The boys have both used rather large complicated words in sentences, sometime correctly other times comically.

A small occurrence in the grocery store. I sent K over to get a "bunch of bananas". Ok, we all know a bunch means one clump all stuck together. He brought two and was trying to get a third. He picked the largest "bunches" as well. He came back and I told him such a good job helping mommy. He said, well you said to get a bunch. He thought I meant a lot of bananas. I am pretty sure my girls would have understood a bunch as one clump at age 5. Funny and cute. Of course we bought both bunches. :) They'll eat them.

In the car on the way home N randomly commented that he was not planning on "getting" any kids when he grows up. K was obviously startled and exclaimed that children are wonderful and he wants lots. I asked how many is lots (you know the "bunch" thing had just happened). He said "three, no six would be good." Then he counted out six on his fingers and said "no three more, that is nine. Nine kids that's how many!" How does he do that? He can't do math at home, but in the car he is a wiz. Then he went on with how he would buy them food and clothes and beds and they would all live in his house and he would bring them to visit me every time he came. I said," you better. I want to love all my grand-babies." We laughed. Then I said to N "it's ok if you don't want kids but Mommy is just wondering why you feel that way?" He says, "well, i don't really feel like going on an airplane when I get big." :) I said, not all kids come on airplanes and explained the various ways to adopt and have kids. He brightened up and said, "no I don't want kids, I want babies. And I don't want them to grow up. Maybe I will get a wife and then she will get a baby and then we can have just one of those and it will stay a baby." ...............Ok. He's four, I am sure he will change his mind later.

Despite telling them their stories, N still thinks he started to exist at age 3 when he came home to us. He is starting to relate the earlier parts of his life from my telling him, but he has virtually no memory of it. K on the other hand has lots of memory, much of which he still dreams about and comes to me so very sad in the night, but he can not or will not share it. The boys both love their life books and look at them nearly daily.

Christmas letter

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Merry Christmas letter

Merry Christmas. We just wanted to share our Christmas newsletter with you and I finally figured out how to get it from the computer to the blog. You can follow this link to see the newsletter if you are interested.  Our Annual Newsletter has been called the Wayfarer (after several corny versions of Khaliqi Chronicles and such) longer than we have had this blog, like maybe for 12 years or so......so welcome to the original Wayfarer, just in case you are new to it.
Our Christmas Letter for 2009
We hope your season is filled with hope, love, laughter and a light heart.

The Khaliqi's

Christmas musings 2009

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Christmas musings

Ok, the boys have been to see Santa.  "Who is he again?"
Ok, controversial, I know but we told them it was a fun game we play at Christmas and other families choose to play the game however they want and some kids don't know it's a game so don't tell. We talked about Saint Nickolas, and all the other ideas of Santa all over the world. Gifts are from family.
So, then we get, "He's a fun game, right mama?"
"Right, a very fun game, I like the Santa game."
"Can I believe he's real mama?"
"Of course, that is up to you."
"Ok, Santa is a fun game mama!"

We didn't do Santa with the girls when they were really little. PJ saw him in the mall when she was in Preschool and asked who is that clown? We said it is a Christmas clown, his name is Santa Claus. No more questions at all from her. But, then in Kindergarten someone asked O who brings her gifts at Christmas and she said Santa. WHAT? After that we did the Santa game. I like him better now that I have done a ton of research on his ancient history.......... oh he pre dates St. Nick and any other idea of him you can find in the traditional lore. Not so nice a character really. He's much better jolly. :)

They all know the Biblical Christmas story by heart and can tell each part so well, even the boys know it and love it. That is the joy of Christmas. 

Oh, and did you know that Santa's reindeer live at my parents house. Yes, their resident deer impressed the boys! N exclaimed " Hey look, Santa's reindeer are on the porch! Here at Grampa and Grams!" Or at least that is what I got from the very excited jumbled rambelings! ...........Santa's reindeer........ porch....... Grampa's!  Cute.

All ready for Christmas. After seeing so much poverty the four older ones of us really want simple things for Christmas. Things we need. (of course it is not hard to come up with a dream list, but not really think we ought to have it). The two younger of us, who before coming here were in such poverty we can not imagine. They want everything. Yea, they even need it all. Oh, the joy of preschoolers. Good thing we rarely watch tv or go to toy stores.

The joy and peace of Christmas. I was pondering it today on the way to church and then again as we were in the car after the service. The Christmas songs that are somewhat melancholy in verse and joyful in chorus represent the season to me more than the ones full of exuberance. The melancholy verses: When it all really happened, the Israelites had long lost hope of the promised Messiah. At least most of them. They still knew the prophesies but had given up the coming in their time to wishful thinking and impossibilities. How often have so many done the same down through the ages. Even now, the neighbor in dire circumstances, the homeless family on the street, the women stuck in undesirable situations, the abused child, even ourselves in our everyday life that sometimes seems so hard,sometimes the world does crash in and all hope seems lost, sometimes when we look within we just can not see the way out. But, he came. He came to the poor in spirit, the downtrodden, those who had lost hope for redemption. Who of us is good enough to redeem?  None, but redeem he does. Every day, every hour, every minute. There in is the chorus of joy, inexplicable joy. Redeemed, not on my merit but on the desire of Jesus who loves despite our unholiness and gives us his holiness. WOW! And that is peace to the world. While I have long understood this, I don't know that I could have expressed it well until this year. I understand, I know, I live in that Peace; Jesus is enough for me. No matter the circumstances, no matter the trial, the worldly pressures, the temptations, no matter the wickedness around us. That peace is Jesus in me and for me.

Merry Christmas to you all and May His Peace dwell in you this Christmas and always.

Christians

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Christians

November 12th was an important day in the life of our family and most especially in the lives of our sons. It was the day they made a choice which will effect their life for all of eternity. Without any pressure from Mom or Dad, in fact we had put this off a few times when they asked, giving them more information and telling them to think it over, several times before....... they boys asked God to give them the Holy Spirit in their lives making them a Christian. Yes, they understand the sacrifice of Jesus and the need for forgiveness of sins, etc..... you know, as much as a 4 year old and almost 5 year old understands, which for our guys is rather a lot more than expected. But, these boys knew all this long before we knew them. I think even before Sele Enat they knew the precious promises of the Bible, the love of Jesus and the faith in God. At Sele Enat these truths were taught to them more and more. They know the stories, they know prayer, they know God. Here in America it has been translated in their minds and now they know all this in their heart of hearts, in their spirit where God now dwells with them. Praise be to God for His perfect way and his perfect answer to the prayers of birth parents, to prayers of "foster" parents and nannies and to our prayers for our boys. So, now they join the rest of our family in the family of Christ. For this we give praise to God.

Happy Birthday Phoebe

Friday, November 13, 2009

Hapy Birthday Phoebe

Happy Birthday to my sweet 12 year old Phoebe.
When you were a tiny baby you were so fussy with all the have too's like eating and sleeping. All you wanted was to see the world, all the people and what was going on. You rolled around starting at 2 months old and quickly went to walking and running. All over, to see the world, explore. You were a good sport and a good companion in Bolivia.... mommy's dolly. Oh the things your brain has seen, if only you could remember them. Ethiopia last year and all the places in between.

You are my gem. My bright shining star. I can  not believe you are already 12. Soon to me and maybe not soon enough to you, you will be on your own, exploring this big world. I know you won't forget the way home. And more than that I know you won't forget to always follow your Lord. Where ever he leads is the best place to be, whether far or near.
I love your sweet and tender heart, your sense of justice, right and wrong. You are helpful and kind, compassionate and thoughtful. You are a true and faithful friend, anyone who finds in you friendship will have a friend for life. You are my precious one, my Sunshine Angel. I love you.
Happy Birthday,
Love,
Mama

Pumpkin time 2009

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Pumpkin time

Well all those pumpkins we got at Kauffman Farms have now been transformed into carvings for Fall. While we were having fun it was snowing outside. AGAIN. We have had something like 5 snows and are now expecting a two day extravaganza of snow fairy flurry's and blizzard.  Jack Frost is keeping busy. The Farmer's Almanac said regular winter, some snow and some no snow, average snowfall for the winter season...... hmmmm, usually right, but not looking that way, it is an El Nino year after all.

Fall 2009

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Fall

Well it is fall and with that comes so many activities for our family.  Our first fall tradition is leaf looking. We have combined this with a field trip Dave does with some students in Cripple Creek, the last few years. That has been fun. The girls have gotten to see some mines and we have had fun leaf looking.

We added a fun time at Rockledge Ranch with my parents while Dave was at the church men's retreat. That was a fun time at a historic homestead.
 The boys wore their western shirts, the ones the girls used to fit into. How time flies.

We enjoyed our fall party too. We skipped last year as adjusting with the boys was just too much. This year we went for a MUCH scaled down version of the party with the girls just inviting a very few friends. Ok, it looks big to some of you, but we used to invite every person we knew. One year we had more than 100 people at our house for this event. It was fun, but somehow I am just too tired for that right now. We had fun with outdoor games and a craft making a scarecrow that hangs over the door. It was fun. We were going on a week of sickness. The boys had strep. I have never had to deal with that before, so a new experience for all. Not a fun one.

The following Friday we made it out to a pumpkin farm. We usually go to the Happy Apple Farm and thought we would try a change this year. We went up to Kauffman Farms in Elbert this time. It was a really fun trip. We got there and saw that it was a neighborhood like ours..... ummmm, do we stay or do we go? We decided to stay and it was fun. They have animals and they grow their own pumpkins and you pick them! This year they had picked them and covered them up with straw and blankets because of the snow and frost. But you could tell they weren't store bought! The real thing here, down home family doings. They have cows and a hay bale maze, a small one, but fun! Wagon ride, smores, etc..... it was fun. You should go!

Well, I love fall and so it is fun to have traditions to look forward to fitting in. Hope you are having a great fall too.

Happy Birthday to my Husband

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Happy Birthday to my Husband

Today is my husband's birthday.
And I have to say that this man, who I love is so amazing. I am so grateful to God for the gift of Dave in my life and for my children.
He is a super great Daddy who is fun, loving and intential.
He is handy and creative,
he is a great musician.
He is a great spiritual leader
He is my friend.
Happy Birthday Dave! I love you more each day.

is it fall or winter? 2009

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

is it fall or winter?

Is it fall or winter?

Monday it snowed and it was the last day of Summer. I posted photos of that on an earlier post. I thought, oh it will stop and be sunny again. Sometimes it snows in the summer, sometimes, but not by any stretch of the imagination is that normal. So, yesterday (above) was the first official day of fall. It snowed. Today, the second day of the fall season, it snowed ALL DAY and is collecting, it is cold. We (the boys and I) happen to be learning our seasons. The boys just can not grasp that it is fall and not winter. It matters little to them what order the seasons go in as they don't get it anyway. Snow goes with winter, not fall in all the books.  But, see the grass is golden, the leaves on the trees are just turning color, they are not all gone yet, it is really fall. So, the book pile from the library has been great, except that it just does not snow in the fall...... until today! The book we read today showed a real live photo of a bear in the snow and it said an Autumn Snow! Yes!

Photos from today.
And the girls picking the not yet ready corn, because it will freeze anyway and so, we didn't get corn this year. Yes, we have actually gotten corn here before. The chickens are cold, but have a warming light and are still laying eggs. No one wants to go visit them now that it is so cold.
Oh the joy of my native Colorado! How I love it. Even the tricks it plays on us from time to time with the weather. Now, what will the winter be like????

Latest Photos of Life sept 2009

Monday, September 21, 2009

Latest photos of life

Happy Last weekend of summer. We did yard work, played with friends and had our last campfire with smores. Fun.

Here are some photos of the boys in cowboy gear. Classic Little Boy in my eyes.

Nate is singing about asking God to help him be good and obey Mommy and Daddy. I think he got the point. :)

Keds is playing guitar like Daddy, similar touch. :)

Olivia jamming with Daddy. She is learning to play the upright bass. This is a half size, she is actually going to play the 1/8 size, we are waiting for it to come in. So far so good. Two lessons and she loves it and has a nice touch and can actually play something. Cool! She has been asking to play the bass for about 2 years now. She is sure when she grows up she will play the "double bass". She better grow a lot!

Happy Fall!

last day of summer 2009

Monday, September 21, 2009

Last day of summer

OK, it is the last day of summer. It is snowing. We have seen it snow in the summer a few times up here but it is still abnormal. :) I have an Oriental Poppy blooming too. Ok, that is a SPRING flower. Snow on the Poppy and on the Purple Coneflowers. Pretty.
Here are some photos.

where people get kids.... and all about babies sept2009

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

where people get kids...and all about babies

Ok, the boys and I have had a few amusing conversations which I will relay to you so you can laugh like I did telling Dave about them.

We had met someone at a store who did not have any children. Of course if the boys get a chance to talk they ask if the person has kids and so found out that she did not.
Later:
K said to me, "Why she not have any kids?"
I said, well, some people just don't, that is not really anything we need to worry about.
N says, "She can go to Etopia and buy some!"
Me, "oh no, it is wrong to buy people. You buy things, but you should not buy people."
N "Well, you go to Etopia and pay money for us."
Me, "Oh no we did not! Adoption is very different. It is not ok to pay money for people. We did not buy you. We adopted you. In an adoption you pay money for a job done, like paperwork or visa or help with language, but not ever for children."

Another conversation:
The boys are questioning a visiting friend:
K "do you have kids?"
M " no, no I don't have any kids."
K "No, i mean do you have any boys like us?"
M "no, i don't have any little boys."
N "well, you can just go to Etopia and get some! Then you will have some."

Another conversation before bed:
K "mommy, do all boys come from Etopia?"
me " no some come from other places in the world and some come from the mommy they live with."
K "oh, did we come from you?"
me "No you grew in your Ethiopian mother and then she took care of you until she could not any more and she choose to help you find a new family to take care of you for the rest of your life. That is us. We adopted you. We love you so much!"
k "oh, what about Phoebe, Oliva, did they come from you?"
me "yes they did."
N "all girls come from mommy, all boys come from Etopia!"
No not really.....

this was a bit much to explain..... however, the next day N stated that he was going to grow up to be a mommy and his babies were going to come out of his tummy. Um, no...
me "you can be a daddy Nate, but only girls can be mommys."
N, "how do i get kids then?"
K "you get them from Etopia" (like, duh of course!)
Me, "well, you will need to find a lady who loves you and loves God and then you get married and she is your wife and then you can chose how you get your babies."

After that, N states in many situations and to many persons and when playing that he wants to grow up to have a wife!
K insists that we get a baby "because I loves them sooooo much. Why don't we have a baby? We can go to Etopia and get one. I will share my bed and my toys with her." (interesting that it is a her.) This kid loves babies! He ooggles at them, and tries to feed them and picks up things for them and says OH a cute baby! How cute, and things like that. He is defiantly a baby person. Hope he stays that way for a lucky future wife!

We saw cows yesterday. One nursing. They wanted to know all about that.
Did mommy feed them like that?
no, your Ethiopian mother fed you when you were a baby. It was good that she could take care of you when you were so small.
What about Phoebe, Oliva? (the ever present question).
me-yes, i fed them like that.
So, N lifts up his shirt and demonstrates how you turn it on and off like a machine. Such a boy.
No, not quite like that.........more like how the cows were drinking.
what about daddys, can daddys do that too for babies?
no, only mommy's can feed the baby like that.
K lifts up his shirt, "then why do i have them if they don't DO anything!?" The engineer.
Ummm.....(I don't know that!) that's just how God made people.

OK, hope you laughed as much as we did.

zoo 8-2009

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Zoo

We just had a fun day at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. Olivia took a friend this time. We got to pet the Wallabies and feed the Giraffe. I think this is the best Zoo I have ever been to. Glad we live so close! It is not huge but it is great and unique. Of course I had to go and forget the camera, but it was fun to not worry about getting photos of everyone, even though I do love that.
We were sad that many animals were lazing around, but what else are they going to do. We learned that Rafiki, the male gorrilla is getting better from being ill. We were a bit concerned for him. I really like the gorillas. We got to see the wolves up close, they came down to the window area. We heard them howeling from the parking lot too, that was fun. It was all cloudy and misty and their sounds were really great with the weather. Since we saw Simba, Pumba and Timon today we are watching the Lion King in lieu of a nap. One of my favorites.
Fun thing to do on the last day of summer! School starts tomorrow for the girls 6th and 4th - WOW!. The boys started MWF am preschool on Monday. So they will all be in school tomorrow. Summer over so soon.

Happy Birthday Nate 8-2009

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Happy Birthday Nate

Happy Birthday Nate! August 14, 2005.

You are now a big 4 year old.
Growing, growing, learning more and more, getting stronger, getting bolder to love your family and your new world.
Home a year, oh what a year.
You have learned a new language, a new family and a whole new world.
You are a remarkable boy my son.
Winsome and joyful, ever smiling, bringing sunshine and happiness everywhere you go.
You must have been born on a Friday, you are one of the most loving and giving kids I have ever met.

I pray that you will grow into a young man who loves Jesus and walks in truth and love. That you will be kind to those around you, that you will live in honor and valor and be the sunshine of light that you are to those who walk in darkness. May your heart belong to God.

I am so glad you are my son. I love you Nate!

Love, Mommy

(new computer, no photos on it yet! sorry)

My Amazing Daughter 7-2009

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

My Amazing Daugher

My Amazing Daughter

Happy Birthday to my sweet 10 year old. I can not believe that it was 10 years ago today that I first held you in my arms. It seems like yesterday...... and yet how you have grown and how much you have experienced in your life.... maybe it was long ago that you were born. My wish for you as you turn DOUBLE DIGITS!!!

May you forever make funny jokes and have your friends rolling,
May I forever hear your musical giggle singing in the air,
May your smile reach from ear to ear cheering everyone around you,
May you believe in fairies and the unseen as though it were real, for who knows what lies beyond the hedgerow, but in your imagination it can all be real. You are right, how can we say that what we can not see is not real.
May you love history and science all the days of your life - the best of both mom and dad.
May you nurture the art in your soul and let it continue to spill out from your skilled hands and bring much delight to yourself and others.
May you love to learn and absorb all the interesting facts your brain can hold, which is quite a lot!
May you continue to be a great playmate and friend and learn to find the best in others as well as yourself.
May you love the unique mind you have been given and find that the way you see things is so much fuller and richer and you are better for it.
May you bring that fullness to those around you, your friends and family, we will all be better for it too.
May you know your God and his great and everlasting, redeeming love for you,
May you rest in his strength and not your own,
May you know your significance in Him alone, for he has made you well and cares for you more than the birds of the air.
May you know that I, your Mama, love you as long as life, and being that I believe in Eternity and Heaven, life will be indeed long.

Happy Birthday my dear Little O.

Love, Mama

Gospel Grass 6-2009

Saturday, June 27, 2009

GospelGrass

We just had a great day out in Calhan at the GospelGrass Summer Festival click for the link. There were bands from all over, many large families playing together. Really really great gospel bluegrass music. We all loved it and want more. There is only one day left. Sunday they have stuff until 4 pm. So if you are in the area and have a mind to go out and enjoy some good music it is well worth the trip. On the web site are some other summer events around the area and further if you are interested in bluegrass.

Chickens and Trees June 2009

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Chickens and trees

Well this last weekend was quite busy. We were able to dig up some trees from some forest dwelling friends with some to spare. They are nice trees, bushy and healthy, we hope they live out here. There are 17 all together which puts up to about 45 trees outside of the garden area. We have planted all but 6, only one of those is a mature tree. The newer ones needing water are closer in so I can actually keep up with it. :) We also moved a huge pile of mulch and the front looks tons better now. The hedge row of New Mexican Privits is done and looks nice. Now on to fix up the beds after the winter of damage by rodents and the summer last year of neglect due to adoption! There are weeds glaore and overgrown plants. How does that happen in only one summer? Anyway, fun for me. I did one bed yesterday and today -- on to more. We do have our projects cut out for us. Dave fixed up the veg. garden beds and the girls pulled up all the rhubarb stalks to eat, we have too much and can't find enough people to give it too! If you live near, come get some asap!

Some other friends are moving and we now have their chickens! They are great. Olivia has "befriended" them and they really like her. She can pick up every one of them and they come to her. They are all named "fryer" or "rotisseree" so we can't let her get too attached. They lay about 7 eggs a day between them, some none, some many, they take turns. There are 7 chickens. Five Plymouth Rock Barred Chickens and Two Rhode Island Reds. They make such a nice sound, they are very loud and do not make the sound I thought chickens make. What do I know! They cackle and croon and cluck and whatever else they do...... It is really a nice sound. Dave made the yard for them out of some fencing from my parents and dug in some hardware cloth. The coop came with the chickens. It did not transport too well and a new one is now needed, but they like this one for now. :) We heard the coyotee pack in the Cherry Creek dry bed (headwaters are out our front door, but underground). They did not come close though, phew!

We also celebrated my daddy's birthday. It was a nice time and I am so blessed to have such a terrific dad to celebrate.

Wed. was our 14th wedding anniversary. We figured out we have known eachother 18 years. Nearly two decades. We get to go away this weekend to celebrate. It has been quite the year and we are blessed by the grace and goodness God has shown us in our lives which brings us closer to Him and to eachother. Without his strength this year would have a very different story to tell. Thanks be to God who works all things to his glory and good and blesses those who he loves and who he calls to follow him. I thank God for Dave.

The kids ended school well and we now have a 6th grader! Wowie, I don't think I ever really thought that would happen! And a 4th grader, how could she be so old already! And two preschoolers -one for one more year and the other for two more. When Phoebe goes to Jr. High Keds will go to Kindergarten. Call us crazy! We are happy for summer and time together to relax and play and do some yard work.

I counted this morning and I think we know of about 20 families in the area who have adopted from Ethiopia or are in some level of the process. I think we may have the need for a yearly get together. That is really exciting to us. We only knew of one when we started last year. Several friends out of town are also in the process and that is really fun for us to watch.

The boys have grown so much. They came to us in size 24 month and are now entering size 4! We are hoping to be finished with Giardia and Ring Worm soon. They are buggers to get rid of. The boys are speaking English and can communicate most things. The night before we got the chickens I was explaining to the boys about them. Kedus just did not understand and I got the idea that he had pictures of chicken nuggets with legs in his head. I said, coo-ka-loo's, which is what they called chickens in Ethiopia. The light went on in his eyes and he said, "Oh I like cookaloos!" He still refers to them as such. Chicken is what you eat, cookaloos are animals. Oh if he only knew. They also like eggs so much they ask if they made eggs every single day several times.

It has been raining for a few weeks now. We are about to get a big storm with heavy rainfall and damaging winds and hail. At least that is what is predicted. So, I had better finish this quick and get the computer shut off.

I love it here 2009

Monday, June 15, 2009

tornados

Today we saw a tornado come out of the sky and it reportedly touched down a few times about 12-15 miles from our home. A friend of mine, who grew up in tornado country was here today. She noticed the unusual clouds. We get cross winds all the time here, but not the distinct swirling we saw today. We could see the swirling clouds above us and tuned in to the weather station to see what the deal was. We had heard tornado warning on the radio for East of Denver (Denver station), but none for us. So we turned on the tv to the newly acquired digital weather station (no cable or dish). The reporter was just saying that a tornado was sighted just about 2 miles east of the ElPaso county Elbert county line. We rushed out to the front porch and sure enough there was a funnel cloud coming down just on the other side of the trees. WOW! No news on if anything was damaged. It seemed to move out pretty quick and the reporter agreed. So, a tornado but not a big twister. Anyway, pretty cool. We are fortunate that our air is cool enough that a tornado has never set down up on the divide. It was frosty today.

We have been getting a lot of rain and the frogs are back in full force of song. Dave says they burry themselves in the mud and wait until it gets wet to come out. That is a ton of hybernating! Someone recently mentioned that this seemed odd for June weather. We got to thinking about it. It was like this Dave's first summer as a river guide (1992), it was like this the year we got married (outside at Glen Eyrie) in 1995, it was like this the year we built the house (2003), and it was like this the year we moved in (2004) and now in 2009. I guess we noted these years because of the events in our lives that were effected by the weather. There may be others. I think this is normal for June in the Rockies. :) In fact it is a bit light compared to some of those years. In 2004 we had and electrical outage every week for a couple months due to thunder and lightning. Last summer was awfully dry, so we are thankful. Just a little reminder that it is still Spring in the Rockies, even though it is summer nearly everywhere else, at least for a little longer.

I love it here.

Spring is here 2009

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Spring is here

Well the snow is melting rapidly!!! The pond is full and the frogs are croaking. Today I re-dug ditches on the driveway for the melting snow to run off instead of make lots of mud. Fun fun fun. Actually I really do enjoy the physical work. I have more leveling to do once the snow on top is mostly gone. It is the best time to work that clay soil.
This afternoon the kids all went out to play after school and got into the pond. They floated around on an inner tube pushing them selves around with some ski poles. It looked like a lot of fun. Mud boots are a necessity around here. When I called them in for dinner they all needed showers before they could come in the house they were soooooo muddy. So, we had a late dinner. Sign of warmer weather. Our family "lives" outside when ever it is warm and we end up eating dinner around 7 because even mommy is so distracted by the lovely out of doors that she forgets to make dinner. :)

I was thinking about all the signs of happy childhood around our house. Upstairs there is a mess around the Barbie house all the time, cardboard food and clay dishes, tissue box beds and fabric scrap linens. What creative fun. Downstairs there are art things out all the time and blocks and cars. I find rocks and sticks everywhere. Outside there are bikes and scooters all over the place. Trucks and shovels in the sandbox. Right now there are mud boots and crocks everywhere. Dirt in the laundry room and a wash going most of the time. Windows open and doors banging with the coming and going of children. Laughter and joyful discovery at every turn. I remember my happy childhood with similar things. I am blessed to have four very happy children. And I love watching them play together.

Happy Spring! Summer is coming! I can not wait! 

SNOW 4-2009

 

Sunday, April 19, 2009

snow

Well we just had a BIG spring snow storm. WOW! Olivia and I enjoyed a beautiful day at the zoo with her class Thursday. By the time we got back to school it was spitting snow and rain already. It was foggy and snowing when we got home. The "snow" at first was just this pellet stuff. Like the polymer beads in stuffed toys but like styrofoam. Weird. Then it really just dumped all night. Friday we had a lull and then more snow and all night. No school on Friday. The kids did get in some sledding! It snowed all day Sat. except for one hour in the afternoon. More outside time. Much of the night as well. Today we looked it over. We had a 3.5 foot drift in front of the garage and the trucks were completely drifted in and under. We had several other large drifts in various places as well. Mostly I think we got about 2. 5 feet if it just fell and did not melt with compaction so fast. Of course the wind picked up yesterday and that drifted and blew away some into other places. It is really pretty. Today it was hot. We were snowed in and could not get out in time for chruch. We spent about 3-4 hours doing snow removal. That is with two of us and a snow blower. The kids sledded and our neighbor boys came over to sled saying we have the best lot for it with the hills. :) The more the merrier. I think they had fun. The snow has melted so much today that when I just let Jigs out a few minuites ago there is only about a foot left in places and less in others. WOW! It will all be gone by Tuesday I bet. Yesterday Dave worked on trim in the house and fell on the steps outside and hurt his back. He is hurting today and lying low. Our friends could not come today due to illness and our snow problem. They will hopefully come next week. Anyway, we are glad for the BIG drink for the plants and trees and grass. Hoping for a green spring and summer. Weather forcasts say rain next weekend. Let's hope for it!