Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Where I Come From

Most people that know me know that I grew up on a farm in rural North Central, KS.
But most people that know me these days don't know what my roots look like. That's what happens when you move away, closer to the city. People don't know your roots.
These are some things that lots of people find interesting about me. Things that people don't expect from me b/c they don't know my roots:
-My Dad is a farmer. He has raised wheat, corn, milo, soybeans, and alfalfa for many years. Although not all of those crops are planted every year. He also has livestock.
-My Grandfather was a farmer. My great grandfather was a farmer. And my dad and uncle still farm the same ground as my grandfathers did. And my parents live where my dad grew up.
-I rode many hours in the tractor and combine as a kid. I thought it was so fun to turn the blinker on every time my dad would turn in the field. Ahhhhh the simple pleasures in life!
-My mother swore she would never marry a farmer growing up. She has been married to my father for 28.5 years now. That's what you get when you swear.
-I have never seen any man work as hard as a farmer. It actually makes it hard for me to feel any sort of remorse for a man that complains about how tired he is when he has a "city slicker" job. I always chuckle.......then I want to yell "Suck it up". They wouldn't survive one day out of the office.
-I have my own cattle over the years. Some of which I bottle fed as babies.
-My first "Real" job was on a dairy. Yes you read it right..... a dairy. A dairy where cows are milked. I worked there for one whole year. My shift would last an avg. of 8-9 hrs. I would operate the milking equipment on around 500 Holstein cows. Was it a physical job? Uhhh...YES! Did I get pooped and peed on? Yes, every time. Did I look hot in my Levi's, cut off shirt and rubber boots at the age of 15? Hell yes I did. I bought my very first car with the money I made working at Meier Dairy. I have now had the car for almost 12 years. It still runs and my hubby drives it to work everyday. That's what happens when you work your a** off to pay for something at such young age. You take reeeeallly good care of it!

So here are some pictures of "Where I Come From"


Every farm house has some sort of front porch. My parents love theirs. Can you see why? It is the perfect place for conversation, relaxation and memory making.

This is my parents view from their front porch. It's one of the things you take advantage of growing up......seeing the sun set. And seeing every storm roll in.

Heading to the field.


Dad's newest tracor is a New Holland. It has a buddy seat (aka a second seat beside the driver's). He did not have this when my brother and I were kids. Sure would've been handy. But you know how that goes. Your parents always get nicer things when you're gone. Probably b/c they aren't spending their money on you anymore. Anyway the extra seat is nice!

The grain cart full of seed out in the field. Eventually the planter empties out. That's when she fills him up.

Every farmer has very tan, very dirty arms. It represents hard work.

Some farmers have livestock. This farmer has cattle.

Cattle have to be fed. Therefore when the farmer has cattle. He never goes on vacation. They have to be counted often to make sure there isn't an escapee and doctored frequently. And then of course fed and watered.

This is the farmer's ride for his cattle. They come in the stock trailer and leave in the stock trailer.

Most every farmer has a daughter. Therefore she is the farmer's daughter. And this is the Farmer's eldest grandaughter. Ain't she a cutie!

Every farm has a shed. Most have several. Some are big and some are small. And on the side of at least one of those sheds is usually a basketball goal. An old weathered beat up basketball goal. This was ours as kids. Still the same. Just a little less paint.

And it's not a farm with out a dog. Some farm dogs are smarter than others. Zoey might fit under the "others" category. She's been ran over by the drill once and survived somehow. She's eaten D-Con (Rat poison) on several occasions. Even though she knows she has to have peroxide poured down her throat afterwards and she violently throws up for a good solid day. And then of course follows that up with a round of pills from the trusty vet. But Zoey is also very loving and NEVER barks unless something threatening is in her territory.


Well, this is a "little" taste of Where "I" Come From.

Sorry it has been 2 whole weeks since I have posted. The longest ever. The blog just hasn't made top priority these last couple of weeks. Seems like I'm hardly keeping my head above water these days. But when you work 3 days a week, chase a 2 & 4 year old around while building #3 and try to run a house you tend to get a little ...well....exhausted every now and then. But I am back! And promise to do better. For awhile anyway.

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Graduation Night

Tonight was Kennedy's preschool graduation. She has been excited about this night for weeks now. Everyday all I would hear is "How many more days til my graduation?!!" Well we finally made it. Here was our night!

Some pictures before hand. Pictures hardly ever work after. Their attention span is in the negative range by that time and they are DONE with a capital "D"!

Kennedy constantly wants to squeeze her sister to death. And if she's not squeezing her she's trying to carry her around. But you can tell she loves her dearly. And this picture shows it.

Daddy & Mommy w/ their 3 girls! Emery is just hiding behind Gentry!

The girls with their Grandparents (Dana's Parents). They were soooo excited when they woke up from nap and came downstairs to find Gpa & Gma at their house. When you live about 3 hours apart that doesn't get to happen too often.

During their program

Receiving her diploma!!!!!

Diplomas in hand!

On her way out of her graduation! Aren't their graduation hats cool! They make them every year.

She's getting soooo big. Next year will be her final year of pre-school with Miss Dana before she becomes a kindergardener. She will go 3 days a week instead of 2. And she will have 3 years of pre-k under her belt when it is all said and done. The first 2 years FLEW by. I hate to think how fast her last year will go. She LOVES it like you can't imagine.

I am not really sure what they were looking at. But whatever it was it sure captivated their attention and I thought the picture was too cute.

Lane & Kennedy

Bailey & Kennedy

This last one is a video. So make sure you pause the music at the bottom of our page and turn your volume up! You will DIE laughing! They got soooo in to this song. You can't even make out what they're saying at first but stick with it. You won't regret it!

Kennedy is the 4th from the right down in front. She really gets in to it!!!!

Friday, May 14, 2010

Monday Madness

Monday my friend Melissa and I "planned" to go to the zoo (again)......mistake #1.....NEVER plan.....plans NEVER work. When you wake up in the morning and your whole surrounding area is already in a tornado watch til 9:00 p.m. you just as well throw in your towel. It was chilly, drizzling & nasty outside. But that didn't stop these girls!

So we headed to Germ Factory #1 (McDonalds play area). The girls had a great time. There weren't any other children there so it actually wasn't too bad.
Maddison and Gentry were being squirlie girls.

Then off to Germ Factory #2 (the play place in the mall). It really worked out pretty well. We just brought along our sack lunches that were intended for the zoo and ate them in the food court.

My little monkey. Literally. I will come in the kitchen to find this child laying on her tummy across the kitchen counter with her head in the sink getting a drink out of the faucet. Does she drag a chair over to get on the counter? Oh heck NO! She puts her long little toes on the top of the oven drawer & then opens the cabinet door below the sink and puts her other foot on top of it and proceeds to get up on the counter. I have to make sure to NEVER ever leave knives sitting out. She is intrigued by anything that could cause bodily harm.

The girls played and played. They had a great time.



I LOVE this picture. I have no idea what my child is doing. But that is definately her. CRAZY, WILD and FUN and avoids my camera at all costs! The other girls are smiling so nicely!

Of course it wouldn't be a true play date if there wasn't dress up!

Melissa and I made the girls some really cool cork boards for their rooms. I will have to post a picture of those sometime.
The day was great and the weather did turn nasty. Someday we will make it to the zoo again. On a whim of course.

By the way....you should see our crew walking through the mall.
Mommies = Me & Melissa
Kids = Kennedy, Gentry, Maddison, & Bailey (a friend of Kennedy's and Maddie's).

And then of course I am sporting my nice round bulging mid section. I am seriously considering having a shirt made up the says "ANOTHER GIRL!!!" You can tell people want to ask but they are almost afraid. But dang are we cute!!! ;)

And for those of you asking questions about my baby counter on the side.....YES...our third daughter's name will be Emery. Her middle name is undecided. So all of you pregnant women out there who are due with a girl before me......well you better not steal her cool name. Or I...will...hunt...you...down. And with the indigestion and acid reflux I have been having you can bet I will have my Pepcid Complete and my Mylanta in my holsters on my hips. It's making me in to a reeeeal grouch these days. I am putting forth a gigantic effort to "suck it up" and be cordial but when it is already constantly foaming in your mouth you just want to spit fire....in more ways than one. So if you see me, please be nice. And if you ask me what I am having and I tell you a third girl and you respond to me with "OH NO!" It is very likely i will rip your head off. I don't tell people we are having an alien. I tell them we are having a third girl and you would think they would be thrilled for us as long as our baby is healthy. 50% of you are!!! But the other 50% seriously acts as if we have been condemned to a life sentence on death row. I am a girlie girl and I am a tom boy. My girls are girlie girls and they are tom boys. They lay under the vehicles their daddy works on right beside him and hand him his tools. They beg to go out to his shop with him. They ride in their carseats in the back of his '78 Trans Am. And when he squeals the tires and burns them off....what do they do? One laughs (Gentry) and the other one bawls (Kennedy). So pleeease do not feel sorry for me or for my husband. We are truly blessed and this is our life. The life we wouldn't want any other way. Despite what you might think!

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Kite Night

One evening last week while playing over at the neighbors house we decided to fly our kites. The breeze was perfect. Can you see the three kites? Mike's kite was the highest. He likes to fly his kites off of his fishing poles. Which does sound....well.......a little redneck......but totally makes sense if you think about it.

I think this might be my favorite picture.

Lane flying his kite off his Dad's pole.

That would be the infamous Lightning McQueen and Tow-Mater on the kite!!!

Cina and Gentry flying the kite way up high.


Kennedy bringing Elmo in.


She was so excited to hold the fishing pole! And look how long her beautiful hair is getting.

We all had the best time.

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Recently

Ice Cream season (not that there is one) has officially started for our girls!


Tuesday was teacher appreciation day. All of the parents went together and got Miss Dana a gift card to an awesome store she likes to shop at. And Cina brought her friend Ginger's famous sugar cookies for snack. Miss Dana was thrilled!

Here is the whole class!
Back Row: Ms. Dana, Alexis P., Braxton, Bailey, Kennedy, Brock, Alexis A.
Front Row: Micah, Calvin, Lane, Maddison, Addison

Here is the class listening to Ms. Dana read the "Q" books.

Gentry is always giving herself "tattoos". But the other day (while being monitored by their father) her sister gave her tattoos. And she was so proud of them. That night when we wiped them off with a wash rag she threw herself on the floor screaming and bawling b/c she didn't want her tattoos removed.

These next couple pics might make some of you a little weak in the tummy. Gentry got her finger smashed in a big heavy door at daycare 2 weeks ago. A couple days later the whole nail was completely white. I knew if was going to fall off. And I was right. This is what the nail looked like Monday.

She pulled the nail completely off yesterday morning on the way to daycare. Apparantly it didn't hurt. It looked like it was hanging on like a loose tooth. Then when we got inside she flipped that middle finger up to her teacher Ms. Hope and said "A new one will grow back". It was hilarious to say the least.

Monday, May 3, 2010

Prom Reflection Part 2

Dana's Junior Prom
Dana went with Katie. Who is on my blog list under "The Geigers"! I truly can't believe Dana ever wore this tux. Don't get me wrong I think it is cool! But still can't believe he wore it. The man refuses to wear any yellow, orange, purple and definately pink shirts. He hates anything bold. But they looked good! And yes.......this prom was B.K. (before Kate)

Senior Prom
Dana & Kristen

Dana & Kristen, Derick & Lindi, Kyle & Chrissy, Robbie & Liza

These were a lot of Dana's close friends. Lindi is getting married this July! Kyle & his wife Sara are having their first child late summer! Chrissy & her husband are having their first child early fall! Robbie.....no kids yet! Thank God :) Just jokin' Robbie. Robbie is actally in the U.S. Navy stationed in Florida. And Liza lives in California working as a designer for Old Navy. (last I knew anyway)