The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

Dang! I did it again.  Life got away from me and here we are - over a month since my last post.  Well, several things have happened.  Yes, I had another birthday, but most importantly, SCHOOL STARTED again. 

The kids decorated for me and picked out my cake.

Steve surprised me with a Fathead wall sticker of Autzen Stadium.  It's huge and I have no idea where it will go.  He thinks it's his way of getting out of going to the CU vs. Oregon game (I bought the family tickets for my birthday). Steve also bought me Oregon sunglasses - I think I'll let him use them during the game so the sun won't get in his eyes.

Now to the important things and why ya'll are reading this post.  They kids are back in school.  What a lovely day it was.  We've actually completed the 1st week.  They all love it and are having a great time.  Here are the details...

JAKE - he's no longer the little kid at the school.  He's moved from 6th to 7th grade.  Not the top dog, but who needs that pressure.  He can have fun for another year before being in charge of the school. 

MAKENNA is 5th grade and rules the school this year.  She has two teachers (they split time in the classroom).  They are awesome!  They were Jake's teacher and really push the kids and have high standards and expectations.  I'm really expecting great things for MaKenna this year.

KYLER is not a baby anymore.  He is in 2nd grade.  Unfortunately, he is like I was as a child - nervous.  He doesn't care for new places and people and especially doesn't like chaos (well other then the chaos at home).  I found that giving him a couple pieces of candy on Sunday that he can only eat while I'm not around helps him go to Primary. I used this same technique and filled a Altoids tin full of candy and put a family picture on the lid.  It was his "nervous tin" - it worked great!  He was able to eat a piece of candy eat time he got nervous.  I wasn't specific in the rules and he ate ALL of it in one day. 

They did great and survived the 1st day!

What does every farmer need?

If you ask a Farmer what they need - they may say more rain, more time, or even, a dollar.  Well, our hobby farm keeps us busy and we're no different.  We could use more rain, more time and a dollar...

Tonight though, we were able to get 2 of the three - it's been raining, and we got a dollar...



Wait for it... you know its coming...

"Dollar"

Jake leading him into the pen

Kyler riding with Papa leading

MaKenna's turn

Dollar is an old feedlot horse.  He is very gentle and easy going.  He's the family horse.  Although we started talking about horses around MaKenna's birthday - it isn't her horse.  She got a riding helmet from Nana and Papa, and we'll get her some horse stuff of her own - but we'll all share the horse.

We'll keep you posted on how things go. For now he's new and exciting.  Hopefully the kids continue to want to help and take care of him.  (I'm hoping for at least through the weekend while we build more pens and another loafing shed.)

Double Digits...

Who would have thought... MaKenna made it to the double digits.  She is such a spirited child, that at times I wondered if we would make it.  She's awesome! We love her and are so thankful that she is part of our family.  There is never a dull (or quiet) moment around here.

MaKenna couldn't decide what she wanted for her birthday.  She knew she wanted it to be the "perfect gift" this year.  She still hasn't gotten anything because she can't decided - a horse, ears pierced, a mule, a paddle boat, etc.  Yes, all realistic 10 year old presents of course. She has her daddy wrapped around her finger, so I'm sure she'll get something outrageous and unexpected.

10 Years old - look at that flame!

Luckily, I did have some PJs and shirts hidden away. I pulled those out so she could get something on her birthday - the "rest" will have to wait. 

 
It was Nana's birthday the day before.  Happy Birthday Nana - the title still applies, although Nana has been in double digits a few decades longer...

The kids got Nana a digital picture frame to take on her mission.  This will same room in the 5th wheel and still let her have all of her favorite pictures.  I grabbed some of all the kids and grandkids for now. Joleane, Laurie, Meilanie - Email me some more and we'll get them added too. 

12 - already?

 I can't believe Jake is 12.  I'm not sure where the time went. He is turning into a fine young man and I'm so proud of him.  He's a great example to our family.

Since Jake's birthday was on Saturday, he got to plan the day, dinner, and dessert. I wasn't surprised when he decided he wanted to spend the day at the lake.

We  were finally able to take the boat out (thanks Daddy).  The kids had a blast jumping off and swimming around.

  Mom and Dad brought an old yellow rubber raft from Grandpa's.  We tied a rope to it and then around the tree. The kids played in it for hours!

It reminded me of this time... Joleane and I rowing Grandpa around.

For dinner, we had smoked ribs, baked potatoes, and French bread.  Followed by ice cream cake for dessert.

Then it was present time - A fishing pole with a camera!

First day... Last day

Finally - the last day of school. For those still interested - here are the first day and last day pics.
We'll start with Jake:

1st Day - 6th Grade

Last day - 6th Grade

On to MaKenna:

1st Day - 4th Grade

Last day - 4th Grade

Perfect Attendance award, and Student Council Certificate

 Last, but not least - Kyler:

1st Day - 1st Grade

Last day - 1st Grade

Perfect Attendance award

The kids together:

1st Day

Last Day

Last Day of School - umm, maybe not

Here is the obligatory Last Day of School post to compare the 1st Day of School.

Just when I was finally getting around to post the end of the year pics, Steve called and said he needed some "help" at the farm.  He was quiet, stumbling over his words and not quite sure what he needed or was asking for.  Finally, he spit it out - Copper was about to have a calf.  Yes, this is the same cow that surprised us this time last year.

I called the vet, he told us what to do ("wait and see"), then I headed up there.  As things seem to go for us, a storm was blowing in.  Steve and I sat in the car, hid behind the truck, anything we could do to get out of the wind and waited.  We didn't actually have to wait too long.  within 45 minutes, Copper had delivered (unassisted) a healthy heifer.  Soon after, it started pouring buckets of rain, hail, and whatever else blew in.

To go along with Roscoe, Moonshine, Dipstick, Daisy, and Cooter - we named the calf LuLu.  She is healthy, happy, and very cute.  The kids can't wait to start playing with her.  She is just about a week old now.

Now, back to the the Last Day of School - wait, phone is ringing... it is the neighbors... they just bought 8 little pigs at the auction.

Wednesday after Steve's work meetings (8pm) we headed to the farm and rearranged animals.  Copper and Lulu needed their pen fixed (diesel had push his way through to get to the "good" hay), Goats got the boot out of the kennel, kennel walls were moved to make a temporary pig pen, and then a new goat pen was built.  

The Leschinsky clan helped out - Sasha is quite the builder.  She is faster with the hammer then Steve's reflexes!

Last Day of School: To be continued...

Who needs a security system...

...when you have boxes - everywhere! Here's a couple pics...

Well, Steve and the kids made their 3rd trip to Oregon to bring "stuff" to Colorado in preparation for Nana and Papa's big move.  The road trip out generally goes pretty smooth and the make good time.  They leave about 5am and get to Klamath around 11pm.  I pack them all kinds of snacks, drinks, lunchables, activity bags, movies... everything to keep them entertained and fed.  (I stay home so I can take care of the dogs, cats, chickens, goats, chicks, cows - the farm!)

The trips home however is when the adventure and action happens.  Trip number 1 - kids are sick and throwing up.  Trip number 2 - lost a dresser in the 1st two hours of the trip. Trip 3 - where do I start? 

Let's just start with a phone call I received Sunday evening (7-8pm maybe) saying the trailer has a flat tire in Morgan, Utah. After a couple minutes of being speechless and not really knowing what to do or where to start, I turned to my friend Google and found a tow company that had a driver in Morgan and could bring Steve some air.  The goal was to get him to Evanston (still several hours away) where he could get a new tire.  Let me just say how crazy it is that truck stops don't carry tires or have repair shops.  Walmart is open 24/7, but not the tire shop. Skipping lots of details... they have to stay in Evanston Sunday. 

Monday morning brings new light to the situation and Steve calls to say he probably needs at least 3 new tires.  Well, Memorial Day didn't help our search for tires.  I called Walmart and hoped that the guy who helped the night before was just really clueless and that maybe a real "tire guy" could help.  I was in luck - they did have the tires Steve needed and the trailer rims weren't reversible or whatever the guy said they were the night before. Walmart was able to help (after working around their policies) and they were on the road by 9:30am.

End of the story - everyone made it home and were excited to be out of the truck.  

We unloaded the trailer Tuesday night since we were expecting rain on Wednesday.  What in the world are we going to do with all these boxes?

BEFORE

AFTER

Dinner Break