Golfing with Gramma

When my mom was here a few weeks ago we got a sitter for the Little Man and took the older boys with us to go golfing. When we arrived at the first golf course the four of us walked in to pay and the guy said no one under 8 could be out on the course. Talk about a major bummer. How old was Tiger Woods when he started golfing? We were very disappointed to be treated like that. Especially since it was a horribly windy and cold day and there was ... uh... NO ONE on the course. Oh well, moving on. We went to another golf course and my mom went in by herself and said we needed two golf carts because she had her grandsons with her. They never asked their ages and we never offered either. So off we went!!! As soon as we got away from the buildings we let each of the boys drive. WATCH OUT! These kids are crazy. You would think riding motorcycles would give them an edge to driving these... um.... yeah, not really. They were crazy, of course that is probably what they were trying to do.

You like their nice clothes? It was pretty cold and windy (it's always windy) so they boys are wearing our vests and coats.

I love seeing these three happy people!

Despite the wind and cold it was such a fun day, with fun kids and a fun loving Gramma.

Hand over the quarter

Ohhhhhhh yuuuuuum. Mom, can I have a quarter? Pleeeeeeeease? Just one piece of candy? Brothers, can you give me a quarter? Please? Just one piece of candy?

This life is rough. Boy cannot live on milk forever. Maybe if I hit it just right some candy will fall out. Man, it's not working. What can I do?

Oohh, I think one moved. They are all going to fall out onto the floor. Then I will be rich, rich I tell you. Rich with candy! I won't nap. I'll be up all night. This will be great.

Beautiful Ladies

I had an absolutely fantastic time with my last photo shoot. It was with three generations of women and girls. What a privilege that they chose me for their photo shoot.

Click on the picture to see more

from this photo shoot

I have so many favorites from this session, however, this one ranks as one of my top favorites. Her daughters expression behind her skirt and the beauty of her own pregnancy just takes my breath away.

I enjoyed photograhing them all so much, thanks again ladies.

Lowe's Build and Grow

On Saturday I ran the kids into town just to go to Lowe's. They have the kids workshops that I have been wanting to get them to for quite some time. We saw they would be making a Jimmie Johnson Semi Truck so of course it was a perfect first workshop. We were worried about making it in time so I drove slightly over the speed limit on the way to town... only slighty, really. Okay, maybe not. Please don't tell. The kids took to it immediately! I had planned on helping the kids. However, I guess they have spent enough time in their dad's shop that they really didn't need any help.

While we were there a friend of our oldest boy showed up for the workshop. They all had a blast! In addition to the semi and the car they built, they also got a Lowe's apron and nametag, safety goggles, a #48 patch, and a certificate. And the price? ......... Free! How about that!

Denied... and some other stuff

The wind has finally calmed. Not without leaving a mark before it left. All in all we had damage on the house and garage siding as well as the house, garage and shed roofs. Hey, but everything is standing, including us!

And because of the wind, I was denied. Denied a hot shower. Not once. Not twice. But THREE times I was denied a hot shower. That said I'm getting pretty good at lighting the pilot on the water heater.

It's been a pretty busy week again. I'm in the middle of going through two photoshoots which has been really fun.

I misplaced my phone this morning. We looked and looked and couldn't find it. I told the kids to go to the neighbors and have her call me so I could locate the phone. She wasn't home. I told them to ride their bikes up to our other neighbors. Nothing like a 1/2 mile bike ride for a kid in 38 degree weather. Please, no one report me! The kids did bring back peanut butter cookies. Maybe I should send them up there more often! *thanks for the yummy cookies*

We managed to get to Lowes just in time for a fun project today. Pictures coming tomorrow. Make it a great day.

Wonderful Weather

I just love Wyoming's peaceful, soothing weather. What with it's ever gentle breezes. Days where the wind is just a whisper across the prairies. The quietest of breezes that barely turn the tall grasses into a moving sea. Breezes that brush across your face in such a gentle way as to just alert you to it's ever quiet presence.

SSSCREEEEEEEEEEEECCHHHHHH!!
Someone wake me UP!

Yeah, our weather is absolutely NONE of those things. The wind blew all night and should continue through today and into Friday. That probably isn't going to do our garage any favors. The garage we built with our own bare hands. The siding is coming off at a pretty good rate. Somehow I don't see me putting it up by myself so unfortunately we will most likely have to hire someone to repair the damage.

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When I went in to check on the boys this morning the middle boy was awake just laying there. He looked up and me with a pitiful look and said "Mom, why does the wind have to blow so hard?" I feel so bad for the kids, their side of the house catches the majority of the wind.

Back in my bedroom I can hear the wind being picked up on the baby monitor.

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Well, just a day at a time. And although we may not have siding on the garage in a few more hours, at least the garage is not likely to blow away.... yet...

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And until then, someone turn the wind off!!!!

On Voting and Long Lines

I was one of the millions of people who cast their vote yesterday. I understand there were extremely long lines for some people and that they had to wait at their polling locations for a long time to cast their vote. Well, I guess it wasn't that way at every polling location......

This is where I cast my vote, a country church a few miles from where we live. When I arrived there were these 6 vehicles already there. Three belonged to the women working the polls. Two of them were the Sheriff and an older gentleman just having coffee. And the last remaining car was ... wait for it.... an actual voter!

My time consisted of:

Waiting for them to located my name in their book: 15 seconds

Saying hi to the Sheriff: 30 seconds

Sheriff visiting with my middle boy: 1 minute 30 seconds

Casting my vote: 2 minutes

Getting stickers for me and my two punks: 30 seconds

Telling everyone to have a great day: 15 seconds

Total Time = 6 minutes

I may have to look up the words "Waiting in line" in the dictionary. There sure won't be a picture of my polling place next to it!

Well, that was rude of me!

Remember this picture? I never did tell you what I was doing with all that stuff. Well, a few did guess it correctly, we were making caterpillars.

As Pioneer Woman would say, here are the cast of characters:

Potting mix, grass seed, pantyhose, colorful hair ties, googlie eyes, pipe cleaners and a big bucket.

Throw some potting mix into your bucket. Be very precise with your measuring here. Just kidding, throw in there what looks like a good amount to fill the amount of pantyhose you will be using. For our project we were using two pantyhose.

Now add your grass seed. Don't be stingy here. Do you want a fuzzy, furry caterpillar or one that looks like it is already balding? We probably used about 3/4 cup of seed. Again, be very precise in your measuring. Okay, kidding again.

Have the kids get their hands dirty and mix it all up. Hey, did you notice there is actually a "girl" in our house? Amazing huh? It's our neighbor, I watch her on Fridays. I'm going to have to talk to her mom about her clothes. If she is going to be here I think she should be covered in pink from head to toe, don't ya think? Where else am I going to get my pink? Okay, now it's time to start filling the pantyhose. Looky there, it's starting to look like something. More like a worm than a caterpillar, better fill it up good. Also, hindsight on our caterpillars, the grass grows through better if the pantyhose is filled tightly. So either buy the smallest pair or don't let the kids stretch them out before you fill them, or the easiest way is just to fill it as full as you can.

Hey, it really is looking like something!

Add your colorful hair ties to give the caterpillar some life! Then glue on some googlie eyes. Take a bit of pipe cleaner and wrap it around a pencil to make it curl for the antenna. Cut a tiny hole in the pantyhose to stick the antenna in.
Make little trays out of foil that is at least two thicknesses. Curl up the sides to keep the water in. Now time for water! Most of the water is going to run off the caterpillar at first. "Like water on a ducks back". That's our saying here for not letting problems get to you, just let them roll of your back. Anyway, the water will stay in the tray if you made some good edges to it. The kids then spent time with a spoon just spooning the water back on top of the caterpillar. They loved it and I loved that it really took them some time to do that step.

Now keep it in a sunny window and keep it moist then ..... wait....... wait.......... wait.........

TADA!!! Our caterpillar. And this guy looks like he's ready for a hair cut already. Have fun with the project. Its a great teaching opportunity for the kids.

Old Combines Photo Shoot

It is so unlike me to not get my daily blog in. I have enjoyed the company of my mom and now my in-laws. Since we are busy I seem to not be getting my blog done each day. I promise it won't be long and I will be back at it daily.

Until then, here are some shots of a photo shoot I did for some friends. They are farmers and they had the perfect location for their shoot.... old combines. There was an old John Deere and also a Case. The bushes growing up through them just made it all the better!!! What a location!