Here are some pictures of him:
Proud cousin Clarence holding little Harley.
Handsome little boy!
Uncle Nathan....
The happy new Mommy.
It's so fun having a new baby in the family again!
Friday, December 16, 2011
Welcome Harley Everett!
As of last Friday, December 9th at 7 p.m., I am now an auntie! Yippee! He's a sweetie....he just sleeps a lot and eats a little, then sleeps again. He's so fun to hold and kiss and smell (the new baby smell...). Nikki and Mark are doing well.....it was a fairly easy birth. She had contractions all day long last Friday, but hardly had to push at all. I'm sure the contractions hurt terribly....I'll never know how they feel.....so I really couldn't sympathize with her or give her very good directions. However, they did make it to the hospital on time, and Harley was born shortly after. He's been such a wonderful little addition to the whole family! Christmas is going to be so fun with him - the holding and cuddling part - and the buying cute tiny, tiny baby clothes.
Here are some pictures of him:
Grandma Juli and Grandpa Lowell, now grandparents X 3!
Here are some pictures of him:
'Tis the Season
It's Christmas time, one of my favorite times of the year.
I love the hustle and bustle.
I love Christmas lights.
I love sitting in the dark with my lit up tree....it's beautiful!
I love getting everyone's creative cards in the mail and the entertaining letters that come with them. This year, I'm sending out my first letter. Hope it will turn out okay!
I love shopping for my family members and finding fun gifts for them.
I love baking Christmas cookies....many different kinds. Mom, Nikki and I try to get together once or twice and bake together. I don't know if we'll do it this year or not, with new little Harley occupying Nikki's time. I'll bake with the kids, though. They love to help out in the kitchen. And, as long as I practice patience, it all turns out okay in the end. :)
I love getting together with family. We try to make it to as many family Christmases as we can, on both sides. It's hard to haul the kids everywhere, but especially in Roseau, it's one of the only times Matt's extended family gets to see the kids. We're all so busy that we're never in the same place at the same time. Hopefully we can work everything out positively again this year and take it all in.
And, I love Jesus and the joy of his birth and the gift he gave all of us. I hope that is the true meaning I can instill in my children as they grow up. Sure, they'll know about Santa and have stockings that get filled, but I will encourage them to know the true meaning of Christmas - the birth of Jesus - and that he came so that we can live forever in heaven.
Hope you're enjoying the season, decking the halls, baking, getting ready to see family, and getting ready for Jesus' birth!
I love the hustle and bustle.
I love Christmas lights.
I love sitting in the dark with my lit up tree....it's beautiful!
I love getting everyone's creative cards in the mail and the entertaining letters that come with them. This year, I'm sending out my first letter. Hope it will turn out okay!
I love shopping for my family members and finding fun gifts for them.
I love baking Christmas cookies....many different kinds. Mom, Nikki and I try to get together once or twice and bake together. I don't know if we'll do it this year or not, with new little Harley occupying Nikki's time. I'll bake with the kids, though. They love to help out in the kitchen. And, as long as I practice patience, it all turns out okay in the end. :)
I love getting together with family. We try to make it to as many family Christmases as we can, on both sides. It's hard to haul the kids everywhere, but especially in Roseau, it's one of the only times Matt's extended family gets to see the kids. We're all so busy that we're never in the same place at the same time. Hopefully we can work everything out positively again this year and take it all in.
And, I love Jesus and the joy of his birth and the gift he gave all of us. I hope that is the true meaning I can instill in my children as they grow up. Sure, they'll know about Santa and have stockings that get filled, but I will encourage them to know the true meaning of Christmas - the birth of Jesus - and that he came so that we can live forever in heaven.
Hope you're enjoying the season, decking the halls, baking, getting ready to see family, and getting ready for Jesus' birth!
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Seven Days
Well, seven days have passed again since I last wrote. Here's what's been happening on the Przekwas Ranch:
Monday (last week): I taught piano lessons all day and I was really tired by the time I got home.
Tuesday: I took Dad to the foot doctor in the morning, then met with Pastor Melodi to talk church stuff in the afternoon.....just the usual.
Wednesday: I subbed at St. Vincent in the morning, and I wore my only skirt. They can't ask me to sub more than once a week there, or I'll have to wear the same thing every time. :) Just kidding....sort of. I have a couple summer ones I could throw in. I'd be the odd one out, though.
That afternoon, I came home, put supper in the crockpot, then Matthew and I went and cut/loaded two pickup loads of wood. Nobody was hurt, except me. I tripped on a stick (buried under the grass), and skinned up my leg. Clarence saw it for the first time today and told me I needed to go and see the doctor. I said, no, I'd be fine. Matt didn't see me this time, though, at least I don't think he did. I"m sure he would've laughed at me just like the week before when I fell...you know, when we worked cows.
Thursday: We were up and headed to G.F. for an all-day auction sale. My dad came with, too. I brought the kids in the Alerus, but we lasted all of 30 minutes, no more. Clarence saw the food stand with the $3 waters, the $5 burgers and the $3.50 hotdogs, and threw a fit. Matt helped me get the kids to the car, and we went to Dairy Queen (the kids and me), where Clarence could have a much cheaper hockerdog meal. :) I brought him back to the Alerus to hang out with the guys......Matt told me he was running up and down the chairs in the ballroom; the auctioneer gave him a huge box (theater size) of skittles. That put him to sleep for a couple hours. Seriously.
Meanwhile, Adina and I shopped. She's such a shopaholic. We were in Michaels, and she was flipping all over the cart and trying to get her legs out. I let her out of the cart and told her she had to stay by me. She looked at me and smiled, then took off across the store. Ha-ha, Adina. You're fast and funny. I caught her, and she was mad at me for the rest of the time we were in there. Once we got to Target, though, she was better and ready to get down to business.
Friday: I subbed in Pembina. I had a good day. The kids were fun and well-behaved. I brought along some of my Christmas presents that I'm making to make during the free hours. It went well...... Friday after school I cleaned for a while, then picked the kids up and we went to Eric and Melodi's house to bring Anna, Clarence's friend, her birthday presents. The kids had fun playing together and hiding from Eric. Matt and his brother went to G.F. Friday evening to pick up the new (to us) semi trailer that we'd gotten at the auction. Matt's so excited about it - the lights work!
Saturday: A busy day. Clarence stayed home with Matt and farmed/fed cows/had coffee with the neighbors. Adina came with Nikki, Mom and me to Tour of Homes. She loves decorating and getting new ideas, so she was excited to come with. :) In the afternoon, they looked at Santa (but didn't like him or talk to him), then we went to Burgers in Bethlehem, where Uncle Mark and Auntie Nikki played the parts of Joseph and (pregnant) Mary when they arrived in Bethlehem for the census. They did a skit and took a cute picture with Dennis (the donkey). Supper was followed by a lighted parade on Main Street. The kids loved it.
Sunday: The kids were pretty good in church. Woo Hoo! Finally! Mostly because Clarence adores Auntie Nikki and sat by her almost the whole time. He did escape one time and go bother the organist WHILE she was playing a hymn. I didn't teach him that. He's sort of wild and I'm not quite sure how to handle it. I'm hoping it's a three year-old thing. Hopefully? Then, we went to birthday lunch at the Peterson's (my cousins)house. Delicious lunch, as always, and good visiting with the family. We came home, quickly cleaned the church (there's a funeral tomorrow), bought some lunch meat, then I mixed up buns....for the funeral tomorrow. Nothing like last minute. Hopefully I remember to bring them to church before I leave for school. Matt's enjoying a fresh caramel roll now for his supper. He's loving it.
Another busy week ahead with piano lessons, subbing, etc. Sorry I haven't told you much about Matt. He's busy, but I'm not home so I don't know what he's doing. :) Maybe he can write to you sometime. Have a great evening/sleep/Monday!
Monday (last week): I taught piano lessons all day and I was really tired by the time I got home.
Tuesday: I took Dad to the foot doctor in the morning, then met with Pastor Melodi to talk church stuff in the afternoon.....just the usual.
Wednesday: I subbed at St. Vincent in the morning, and I wore my only skirt. They can't ask me to sub more than once a week there, or I'll have to wear the same thing every time. :) Just kidding....sort of. I have a couple summer ones I could throw in. I'd be the odd one out, though.
That afternoon, I came home, put supper in the crockpot, then Matthew and I went and cut/loaded two pickup loads of wood. Nobody was hurt, except me. I tripped on a stick (buried under the grass), and skinned up my leg. Clarence saw it for the first time today and told me I needed to go and see the doctor. I said, no, I'd be fine. Matt didn't see me this time, though, at least I don't think he did. I"m sure he would've laughed at me just like the week before when I fell...you know, when we worked cows.
Thursday: We were up and headed to G.F. for an all-day auction sale. My dad came with, too. I brought the kids in the Alerus, but we lasted all of 30 minutes, no more. Clarence saw the food stand with the $3 waters, the $5 burgers and the $3.50 hotdogs, and threw a fit. Matt helped me get the kids to the car, and we went to Dairy Queen (the kids and me), where Clarence could have a much cheaper hockerdog meal. :) I brought him back to the Alerus to hang out with the guys......Matt told me he was running up and down the chairs in the ballroom; the auctioneer gave him a huge box (theater size) of skittles. That put him to sleep for a couple hours. Seriously.
Meanwhile, Adina and I shopped. She's such a shopaholic. We were in Michaels, and she was flipping all over the cart and trying to get her legs out. I let her out of the cart and told her she had to stay by me. She looked at me and smiled, then took off across the store. Ha-ha, Adina. You're fast and funny. I caught her, and she was mad at me for the rest of the time we were in there. Once we got to Target, though, she was better and ready to get down to business.
Friday: I subbed in Pembina. I had a good day. The kids were fun and well-behaved. I brought along some of my Christmas presents that I'm making to make during the free hours. It went well...... Friday after school I cleaned for a while, then picked the kids up and we went to Eric and Melodi's house to bring Anna, Clarence's friend, her birthday presents. The kids had fun playing together and hiding from Eric. Matt and his brother went to G.F. Friday evening to pick up the new (to us) semi trailer that we'd gotten at the auction. Matt's so excited about it - the lights work!
Saturday: A busy day. Clarence stayed home with Matt and farmed/fed cows/had coffee with the neighbors. Adina came with Nikki, Mom and me to Tour of Homes. She loves decorating and getting new ideas, so she was excited to come with. :) In the afternoon, they looked at Santa (but didn't like him or talk to him), then we went to Burgers in Bethlehem, where Uncle Mark and Auntie Nikki played the parts of Joseph and (pregnant) Mary when they arrived in Bethlehem for the census. They did a skit and took a cute picture with Dennis (the donkey). Supper was followed by a lighted parade on Main Street. The kids loved it.
Sunday: The kids were pretty good in church. Woo Hoo! Finally! Mostly because Clarence adores Auntie Nikki and sat by her almost the whole time. He did escape one time and go bother the organist WHILE she was playing a hymn. I didn't teach him that. He's sort of wild and I'm not quite sure how to handle it. I'm hoping it's a three year-old thing. Hopefully? Then, we went to birthday lunch at the Peterson's (my cousins)house. Delicious lunch, as always, and good visiting with the family. We came home, quickly cleaned the church (there's a funeral tomorrow), bought some lunch meat, then I mixed up buns....for the funeral tomorrow. Nothing like last minute. Hopefully I remember to bring them to church before I leave for school. Matt's enjoying a fresh caramel roll now for his supper. He's loving it.
Another busy week ahead with piano lessons, subbing, etc. Sorry I haven't told you much about Matt. He's busy, but I'm not home so I don't know what he's doing. :) Maybe he can write to you sometime. Have a great evening/sleep/Monday!
Sunday, November 27, 2011
A Couple Clarence Stories
I was getting Clarence ready for bed last night, and all he wanted to wear was his cowboy jammies. He only has one pair, and it's the only pair he likes wearing these days. Matt asked him if he could wear Elmo, he said, "No!", Matt asked if he could wear Cookie Monster, he said, "No! I want my cowboy yammies." I told him they were in the basement with some other clean clothes.....well, Matt had to quickly run to the basement and get them. Anyway, once I got the "yammies", I was getting him dressed, and Clarence was talking about his jammies. They're his favorite, you know.
He said, "Dia wear cowboy yammies?"
I replied, "No, Adina doesn't have cowboy jammies....she's wearing her strawberry jammies."
Then he told me, "Dia no got cowboy yammies." I told him he was right, and didn't correct his sentence. :) It was much too cute.
_________________________________
Today, while Matt was quickly feeding the heifers a couple bales and Adina was finishing her nap, I was unloading the dishwasher and Clarence was gazing outside. I was minding my own business not really thinking about what he was getting into, when he walked up to me with a big sad lip holding a picture. I asked him what was wrong. He wouldn't answer. I asked if I could look at the picture. He held it out for me to see.......it was me when I was like 13 and I was in a hospital bed.......I was going to have or already had my tonsils out. It must have been hard for him to understand. He almost started crying; his eyes were wet and his cute lip stuck way out. He wouldn't answer my questions, just held the picture and wanted me to hold him. He just sat on my lap and said, "Me sad." I'm not sure what about the picture made him sad, maybe it was just the fact that I was in the hospital?
_______________________________________
We took him skating for the first time ever tonight. He had a blast. He really thought he was going to play hockey with Mary and Matt tonight, but I guess first he'll have to learn to stand up on the ice by himself. He pushed a chair all over the ice with Matt trying to hold him up. Then, they ditched the chair and Matt and Mary each took one of his arms. It was adorable. He lasted 20 minutes or so, then he'd had enough. We didn't push it....we want him to enjoy it, not hate it. He said he wants to go again, so that'll be fun to see his progress over the winter.
_________________________________________
Well, I'm missing out on "Little House". Off I go! Sleep well!
Oh, I heard this today:
If you go to bed and can't sleep, don't lay in bed and count sheep - talk to the Shepherd.
He said, "Dia wear cowboy yammies?"
I replied, "No, Adina doesn't have cowboy jammies....she's wearing her strawberry jammies."
Then he told me, "Dia no got cowboy yammies." I told him he was right, and didn't correct his sentence. :) It was much too cute.
_________________________________
Today, while Matt was quickly feeding the heifers a couple bales and Adina was finishing her nap, I was unloading the dishwasher and Clarence was gazing outside. I was minding my own business not really thinking about what he was getting into, when he walked up to me with a big sad lip holding a picture. I asked him what was wrong. He wouldn't answer. I asked if I could look at the picture. He held it out for me to see.......it was me when I was like 13 and I was in a hospital bed.......I was going to have or already had my tonsils out. It must have been hard for him to understand. He almost started crying; his eyes were wet and his cute lip stuck way out. He wouldn't answer my questions, just held the picture and wanted me to hold him. He just sat on my lap and said, "Me sad." I'm not sure what about the picture made him sad, maybe it was just the fact that I was in the hospital?
_______________________________________
We took him skating for the first time ever tonight. He had a blast. He really thought he was going to play hockey with Mary and Matt tonight, but I guess first he'll have to learn to stand up on the ice by himself. He pushed a chair all over the ice with Matt trying to hold him up. Then, they ditched the chair and Matt and Mary each took one of his arms. It was adorable. He lasted 20 minutes or so, then he'd had enough. We didn't push it....we want him to enjoy it, not hate it. He said he wants to go again, so that'll be fun to see his progress over the winter.
_________________________________________
Well, I'm missing out on "Little House". Off I go! Sleep well!
Oh, I heard this today:
If you go to bed and can't sleep, don't lay in bed and count sheep - talk to the Shepherd.
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Check!
We're checking things off the to-do list every day now, and it's wonderful!
In the past week to week and a half, we have:
What we still have left to do won't really take much time:
We went to Matt's aunt and uncle's house in Roseau for Thanksgiving. It was a nice, relaxing, quiet day (as relaxing as it can get with two wild kids among adults....). :) It was nice to see everyone and visit all afternoon. Matt's aunt and cousin from Missouri drove up to spend Thanksgiving with the family. I thought that was really nice of her. Today, the whole crew (Carmen, Karolyn - Carmen's sister, Grandma Jeanette, Mary, Bob, Pattie - Carmen's other sister, Rebekah, Amelia - Pattie's two daughters, and Amelia's boyfriend) came over to visit. Pattie - Matt's Missouri Aunt, wanted to see the fence we've been working on, so she was able to see that. We had coffee and bars at my house, then headed over to my dad's farm to see the shop Matt's brother, Mark, is building. He's doing a great job and is almost finished, so he wanted to show Auntie Pattie before she heads back to Missouri later today. It was really nice for everyone to come over this way and see what we've been up to.
Auntie Mary will be back playing hockey this week (she had a concussion a week and a half ago), so we're probably going to go back to Roseau a time or two this week to watch her play. It's so fun to see her play! Clarence just loves it.....and he loves that Mary bought him some hockey skates yesterday. I guess they really want Clarence to learn how to skate, don't you think? Tomorrow afternoon, we might go to Roseau and skate (Matt and Clarence) with Auntie Mary. We'll see what the day brings, I guess.
Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and a relaxing weekend!
In the past week to week and a half, we have:
- finished the perimeter of the fences (enough so the cows can be out grazing.....we still have some clips to put on, but that's it!)
- hauled the hay home from Humboldt (that's all the hay we had left to haul, about 120 bales left at Humboldt, and Matt finished it this morning)
- worked the cows.........Tuesday was the day....it went great!
- worked the calves.........Tuesday.....a very long day.....well over 500 animals (cows, calves, heifers and bulls) were worked. It took about 12 hours. We finished in the barn in the dark with two big lights. I'm so glad we're done. It's such a huge relief! And, we had great help throughout the day....people came when they could and stayed for a little time, or the whole day, whatever worked for their schedules. We also made it through the day with nobody getting hurt from scary, wild animals - nobody except me, that is, when I was running to try and get Matt some medicine QUICK! and I tripped and fell. Then Matt laughed at me. Nikki had to bring him the medicine. :)
- Matt and his dad are working on the waterer out back right now so the cows don't have to walk so far for their water. That'll be working soon.
What we still have left to do won't really take much time:
- wean calves....Matt's doing that this coming week. He's going to feed everything up on the big hill right by the barns, shut the gates and lock everything in, then let only the cows go back out and eat. Then we'll lock just the calves up. The reason we don't wean the calves when we work them is because it's too stressful for the calves and they don't gain weight well if they're under too much stress.
- cut wood.....Matt seems to think some day soon we'll take all three pickups (with clean back ends) and head to the woods. He also thinks that the kids and I will be a lot of help. I'd be a lot of help without the kids, but they get antsy when they're with, so I wouldn't be as much help as I should be; so, if he wants to really do that, I think I'll haul the kids to the sitter and we can just work at it together.
- put tin on the shop roof.....He wants this done before winter (whenever that's coming). Good luck, honey!
- put up my addition......the cement's done.......as soon as we get materials ordered, he hopes to get it up quickly. I hope he gets it up quickly, too. :) It's not a project that I want to take years, and I do realize that in order to make this happen, I need to help. I plan on it - after they get the walls up and the roof on, etc.
We went to Matt's aunt and uncle's house in Roseau for Thanksgiving. It was a nice, relaxing, quiet day (as relaxing as it can get with two wild kids among adults....). :) It was nice to see everyone and visit all afternoon. Matt's aunt and cousin from Missouri drove up to spend Thanksgiving with the family. I thought that was really nice of her. Today, the whole crew (Carmen, Karolyn - Carmen's sister, Grandma Jeanette, Mary, Bob, Pattie - Carmen's other sister, Rebekah, Amelia - Pattie's two daughters, and Amelia's boyfriend) came over to visit. Pattie - Matt's Missouri Aunt, wanted to see the fence we've been working on, so she was able to see that. We had coffee and bars at my house, then headed over to my dad's farm to see the shop Matt's brother, Mark, is building. He's doing a great job and is almost finished, so he wanted to show Auntie Pattie before she heads back to Missouri later today. It was really nice for everyone to come over this way and see what we've been up to.
Auntie Mary will be back playing hockey this week (she had a concussion a week and a half ago), so we're probably going to go back to Roseau a time or two this week to watch her play. It's so fun to see her play! Clarence just loves it.....and he loves that Mary bought him some hockey skates yesterday. I guess they really want Clarence to learn how to skate, don't you think? Tomorrow afternoon, we might go to Roseau and skate (Matt and Clarence) with Auntie Mary. We'll see what the day brings, I guess.
Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and a relaxing weekend!
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Three Year-Old Birthday Boy Pictures!
Here are pictures from Clarence's third birthday party at the cabin. Obviously I was busy and forgot to get pictures of everyone who attended and stuff, but here's the jist. Enjoy! He sure did!
His birthday cake, made by mom's co-worker, Sue.....a deer (because it was deer hunting, a bull, a calf, and a cow).
The smile that never left his face while we sang "happy birthday" three times in a row. Everyone loved singing to him because he just sat there and smiled.
Blowing out his three candles.
Five of the six littlest kids.....Tucker must've run away while we took this one. It's Clarence, Adina, Anna, McCall, and Guilford - Clarence's cousins and friends.
They each took a turn licking frosting - this was Adina's turn.
Birthday guests......
Brittany, Uncle John, McCall, Nikki, and Aunt Joni.
More guests.....
Eric, Melodi, and Janet.
And even more.....too many to name, though.
Clarence, Henry, and Anna digging into the new birthday toys. Here they're stacking the new bales he got. Henry loved them.....he helped Clarence haul them around the cabin until it was time for him to leave. Then, he decided Clarence should come over later in the week and bring his new bales and fence panels with. Even Uncle Nathan and Uncle Mark P. joined in the fun of playing with the new toys. They all had fun.
Adina playing.
Grandma Carmen and Uncle Mark.....
Brittany, Uncle John, McCall, Nikki, and Aunt Joni.
Eric, Melodi, and Janet.
Clarence got these new coveralls and hat from Grandma Juli and Grandpa Lowell....he wore them outside to help his daddy the next few days. He looks darling in them, as you can see. :)
Hope you enjoyed pictures of Clarence's third birthday party! I can't believe he's already three....the years have just flown by!
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Visitors
Uncle Mark P. and Andrea (his girlfriend) came over to visit tonight. They ate supper with us, then played with the kids. I told Clarence (when Mark was on his way over) that if he listened well and took a bath quickly for me that he'd be able to stay up and play farm with Uncle Mark. He was so excited, because Mark really gets into it and helps Clarence expand his thinking with farming stuff. Matt's comment about Mark "playing farm" with Clarence was that he wishes Mark would come over and "play farm" with him. :)
Clarence finished his bath quickly and came straight down to play. They had big pens set up in no time. Then, we came in later, and Mark had laid out a big blanket and spread the bales all around it. He said the blanket was the hay field, and they needed to go out with the loader and trailer and load up all the bales, which of course, Clarence responded very positively. Matt said he thinks Mark thinks about playing farm while he's at work, because he comes over with such different ideas (like making panels, bales and fields).
We looked in a while later, and all the animals were set out, Mark and Andrea were deep in playing, and Adina was just sitting and watching and helping a little. It was cute. I'm glad they like to come and play with the kids. Andrea also brought Clarence a box of animals for his birthday. He loved them......more cows, pigs, horses, and tractors.
Visitors are always fun.....especially when they play my kids out! :) Hopefully they'll sleep well tonight.
Clarence finished his bath quickly and came straight down to play. They had big pens set up in no time. Then, we came in later, and Mark had laid out a big blanket and spread the bales all around it. He said the blanket was the hay field, and they needed to go out with the loader and trailer and load up all the bales, which of course, Clarence responded very positively. Matt said he thinks Mark thinks about playing farm while he's at work, because he comes over with such different ideas (like making panels, bales and fields).
We looked in a while later, and all the animals were set out, Mark and Andrea were deep in playing, and Adina was just sitting and watching and helping a little. It was cute. I'm glad they like to come and play with the kids. Andrea also brought Clarence a box of animals for his birthday. He loved them......more cows, pigs, horses, and tractors.
Visitors are always fun.....especially when they play my kids out! :) Hopefully they'll sleep well tonight.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
The Season of Being Thankful
While I go through the everyday frustrations of being a mom, I need to stop for a moment and be thankful: thankful for my kids......
Clarence is such a handful lately...he's totally a three year old, naughty one minute, an angel the next. He tests my patience to the limit, and I feel like a bad mom most days, but I'm thankful I have such a precious boy who's such a little "farmerguy" and is so polite (as far as please and thank-yous, flushing the toilet and putting down the toilet seat lid go). I'm a very lucky mommy, I know...I just have to stop and appreciate my little sweethearts.
Adina's doing better about not being so needy all the time...she still loves her pacifier, but she doesn't hang on me and whine like she used to. She plays so well now and is such a sweet happy little girl to have around. I'm thankful for her wonderful little smile and easy-going attitude.
I'm thankful for Matt; sappy, I know..., but I am. He works so hard to make our farm run smoothly. He's always worried about the cows and if they look okay, making sure he'll get all the work done before we're snowed in for the winter, worried about if we'll have enough hay to last the winter, worried about if the waterers (tractors, equipment, wood stove, etc.) are working right; these are all things I know need to happen in order for the farm to run properly. However, I'm busy with the kids and my jobs, so I'm so thankful Matt's so good at what he does so that they aren't things I have to worry about. I'm thankful he's such a good daddy and that he loves the kids so much. I'm thankful he'll take a little time to play farm with Clarence, read them a book, take them for a drive, and help put them to bed.
I'm thankful for the music team at church; they all show up every practice ready to sing, sing, sing. They're open to trying new music, trying to sing in parts, and open for my criticism on counting and stuff. They're fun people to be around, and I"m just thankful they're willing to use their gifts for worship and God.
I'm thankful for Ruby, our dog, also known as Rhubarb America Przekwas (Matt named her, by himself). She's a sweet-tempered, wonderful dog. The kids pull on her, lay on her, and chase her around the house, but she doesn't do anything. She's so tolerant of them and their rough-housing.
I'm thankful for our families - the Younggren's and the Przekwas's. Both sets of grandparents love to see the kids, love to help us out with them and our work, and are fun to visit. It's so relaxing to go and have supper at my mom's house, or to go to Roseau and hang out and visit with Matt's family. I'm thankful we have wonderful families and that they're close enough so we can see them often.
I'm thankful for the snow. I love snow. Don't hate me because of it. It signals a slower time for us, where we can hang out together as a family and see each other more. We can spend evenings together reading, watching movies and playing. I love the snow itself, too - it's beautiful. If you don't think so, look outside and try to see it that way. It really is.
Have a happy Thursday! What are you thankful for today?
Clarence is such a handful lately...he's totally a three year old, naughty one minute, an angel the next. He tests my patience to the limit, and I feel like a bad mom most days, but I'm thankful I have such a precious boy who's such a little "farmerguy" and is so polite (as far as please and thank-yous, flushing the toilet and putting down the toilet seat lid go). I'm a very lucky mommy, I know...I just have to stop and appreciate my little sweethearts.
Adina's doing better about not being so needy all the time...she still loves her pacifier, but she doesn't hang on me and whine like she used to. She plays so well now and is such a sweet happy little girl to have around. I'm thankful for her wonderful little smile and easy-going attitude.
I'm thankful for Matt; sappy, I know..., but I am. He works so hard to make our farm run smoothly. He's always worried about the cows and if they look okay, making sure he'll get all the work done before we're snowed in for the winter, worried about if we'll have enough hay to last the winter, worried about if the waterers (tractors, equipment, wood stove, etc.) are working right; these are all things I know need to happen in order for the farm to run properly. However, I'm busy with the kids and my jobs, so I'm so thankful Matt's so good at what he does so that they aren't things I have to worry about. I'm thankful he's such a good daddy and that he loves the kids so much. I'm thankful he'll take a little time to play farm with Clarence, read them a book, take them for a drive, and help put them to bed.
I'm thankful for the music team at church; they all show up every practice ready to sing, sing, sing. They're open to trying new music, trying to sing in parts, and open for my criticism on counting and stuff. They're fun people to be around, and I"m just thankful they're willing to use their gifts for worship and God.
I'm thankful for Ruby, our dog, also known as Rhubarb America Przekwas (Matt named her, by himself). She's a sweet-tempered, wonderful dog. The kids pull on her, lay on her, and chase her around the house, but she doesn't do anything. She's so tolerant of them and their rough-housing.
I'm thankful for our families - the Younggren's and the Przekwas's. Both sets of grandparents love to see the kids, love to help us out with them and our work, and are fun to visit. It's so relaxing to go and have supper at my mom's house, or to go to Roseau and hang out and visit with Matt's family. I'm thankful we have wonderful families and that they're close enough so we can see them often.
I'm thankful for the snow. I love snow. Don't hate me because of it. It signals a slower time for us, where we can hang out together as a family and see each other more. We can spend evenings together reading, watching movies and playing. I love the snow itself, too - it's beautiful. If you don't think so, look outside and try to see it that way. It really is.
Have a happy Thursday! What are you thankful for today?
Monday, November 14, 2011
The Weekend
Well, the weekend flew by, and now it's been almost a week again since I last wrote.
We're still busy. Matt's been fencing, helping dad haul cows, helping dad vaccinate calves, fencing, hunting a little, and fencing some more. All the t-posts are in the ground, now, and we just have to put up wire. A couple devoted days will get most of it complete.
Friday afternoon, I went to Fargo again for another LPM class; it's my class for my job at church, to help me enhance worship through learning how to plan it better and what music fits better. I really enjoy it. Friday night, I stayed in a convent in Fargo. It was very beautiful, and, once I got in my room, dead quiet (definitely something I'm not used to). The kids stayed with my parents and had fun playing. Friday, they worked calves at my dad's farm; Clarence was there for the whole day, from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., except for the time he spent eating lunch and napping. He's quite a trooper, and so tolerant of all the work.
Sunday, we went to church. I love going to church, and I want my kids to grow up knowing that's what we do on Sundays. However, as we were singing the last song on Sunday morning, and my kids were crawling down the side aisle laughing, I started crying; it was a very overwhelming day in church. The kids were so naughty the whole time. They went under the pews over and over and over; Clarence made noise during prayers and other quiet times; Adina kept squirming and trying to get into the aisle; I took Clarence out, spanked him, and told him to behave...he acted like he would...we got back into church, and he crawled all the way down the pew....grrrr!...all in all, it was very hard, and not something I want to repeat any time soon; actually, I'd prefer never, but I know it will happen again. Nikki was even there helping me, and I don't know how I would've ever survived without her. I probably would've just walked out and left, if not for her and holding one kid when they weren't squirming all over the place.
Sunday afternoon, even though Clarence didn't deserve it after his naughty church behavior, we had his third birthday party. There was no way around it; everyone already knew about it and was coming, but he sure didn't deserve it......Mommy was mad most of the day!
I'll post pictures later....and tell all about it (the birthday, that is).
Have a great day!
We're still busy. Matt's been fencing, helping dad haul cows, helping dad vaccinate calves, fencing, hunting a little, and fencing some more. All the t-posts are in the ground, now, and we just have to put up wire. A couple devoted days will get most of it complete.
Friday afternoon, I went to Fargo again for another LPM class; it's my class for my job at church, to help me enhance worship through learning how to plan it better and what music fits better. I really enjoy it. Friday night, I stayed in a convent in Fargo. It was very beautiful, and, once I got in my room, dead quiet (definitely something I'm not used to). The kids stayed with my parents and had fun playing. Friday, they worked calves at my dad's farm; Clarence was there for the whole day, from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., except for the time he spent eating lunch and napping. He's quite a trooper, and so tolerant of all the work.
Sunday, we went to church. I love going to church, and I want my kids to grow up knowing that's what we do on Sundays. However, as we were singing the last song on Sunday morning, and my kids were crawling down the side aisle laughing, I started crying; it was a very overwhelming day in church. The kids were so naughty the whole time. They went under the pews over and over and over; Clarence made noise during prayers and other quiet times; Adina kept squirming and trying to get into the aisle; I took Clarence out, spanked him, and told him to behave...he acted like he would...we got back into church, and he crawled all the way down the pew....grrrr!...all in all, it was very hard, and not something I want to repeat any time soon; actually, I'd prefer never, but I know it will happen again. Nikki was even there helping me, and I don't know how I would've ever survived without her. I probably would've just walked out and left, if not for her and holding one kid when they weren't squirming all over the place.
Sunday afternoon, even though Clarence didn't deserve it after his naughty church behavior, we had his third birthday party. There was no way around it; everyone already knew about it and was coming, but he sure didn't deserve it......Mommy was mad most of the day!
I'll post pictures later....and tell all about it (the birthday, that is).
Have a great day!
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Chicken and Cheese Noodle Bake
As you know, I'm always on the lookout for good, easy supper recipes. I found one the other day in my Simple and Delicious magazine. I haven't made it yet, but plan to soon. Nearly everyday I ask Clarence what I should make for supper, and his response is always "noooles" (noodles). So, I hope he likes this one! And, as always, I'll probably make extra (even though it makes enough for two 11x7 pans), because I like to use 9x13 pans, and I LOVE LEFTOVERS!
Chicken and Cheese Noodle Bake
1 pkg. (16 oz.) spaghetti, broken
2 medium onions, chopped
1 medium green pepper, chopped
1 medium red pepper, chopped
1/2 c. butter, cubed
6 TBSP. flour
2 c. milk
4 c. cubed cooked chicken
1 can cream of chicken soup, undiluted
1 can cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
1 c. sour cream
1/2 tsp. celery salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
2 c. shredded mozzarella cheese
1 c. shredded cheddar cheese
Cook spaghetti according to package directions. Meanwhile, saute the onions and peppers in butter until tender. Stir in flour until blended; gradually add milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Stir in the chicken, soups, celery salt, pepper and sour cream. Drain spaghetti; add to sauce mixture and toss to coat. Transfer to two greased 11x7 baking dishes (or 9x13, if you've made extra noodles and sauce). Sprinkle with cheeses. Cover and freeze one casserole for up to 3 months. Cover and bake the remaining casserole at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Uncover and bake 5-10 minutes longer or until bubbly.
To use frozen hotdish: Thaw in the fridge overnight. Remove from fridge 30 minutes before baking. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. Uncover and bake 5-10 minutes longer or until bubbly.
Chicken and Cheese Noodle Bake
1 pkg. (16 oz.) spaghetti, broken
2 medium onions, chopped
1 medium green pepper, chopped
1 medium red pepper, chopped
1/2 c. butter, cubed
6 TBSP. flour
2 c. milk
4 c. cubed cooked chicken
1 can cream of chicken soup, undiluted
1 can cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
1 c. sour cream
1/2 tsp. celery salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
2 c. shredded mozzarella cheese
1 c. shredded cheddar cheese
Cook spaghetti according to package directions. Meanwhile, saute the onions and peppers in butter until tender. Stir in flour until blended; gradually add milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Stir in the chicken, soups, celery salt, pepper and sour cream. Drain spaghetti; add to sauce mixture and toss to coat. Transfer to two greased 11x7 baking dishes (or 9x13, if you've made extra noodles and sauce). Sprinkle with cheeses. Cover and freeze one casserole for up to 3 months. Cover and bake the remaining casserole at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Uncover and bake 5-10 minutes longer or until bubbly.
To use frozen hotdish: Thaw in the fridge overnight. Remove from fridge 30 minutes before baking. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. Uncover and bake 5-10 minutes longer or until bubbly.
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