3rd Birthday Madness!

It's hard to believe the "Little Cowboy" has turned three years old! I remember when he preferred his bottle of milk to Ninja Turtles.  Why, last year he didn't even know what a Ninja Turtle was. Come to think of it, neither did I.  But, all good grandmothers, sooner or later, learn about "BOY STUFF"!  Ninja Turtles, Paw Patrol, Thomas and Friends, Super Heroes, etc. etc.  Anyway, a big Birthday Splash was planned with Leonardo, the Blue Ninja Turtle, the star of the show!  However, the weather was not cooperating the week leading up to the party.  It rained EVERY day.  Not just a little bit but true gully washers!  I feared we would never get the lawn mowed and would have to change the birthday theme to Tarzan of the Jungle!  Thankfully, that did not happen and the lawn was mowed - barely - as there was a break in the clouds for one half of one half of one half of a day.  Whoopie!!   Sadly, once the main yard was mowed, the skies again opened up so the weed eater just sat and gathered dust.  Needless to say, for two days leading up to the Birthday Splash, all I could do was pray, "Please Lord, don't let it rain on Saturday!"  Whatever would I do with six, two and three-year-old boys running around in the house?  Because as you all know, if one runs, they all run; if one screams, they all scream; if one has to go to the bathroom, they ALL have to go to the bathroom; if one falls down, they all fall down!  It's just a fact of life....

THE DAY BEFORE......

 The yard looked bland and colorless so Big A and I set out to the garden center to purchase a bit of excitement in the form of blooming plants!  (Fifteen-year-old boys who have their driver's permit and a "new" truck to drive, make wonderful chauffeurs.  And their price is pretty reasonable too.)

 Three wagons full should just about do it.  At least on the first go-around.

 I could not have lifted all these potted plants by myself.  Thanks Big A!!

THE BIG DAY ARRIVED - I WAS AFRAID TO PEEK OUT THE WINDOW.  WOULD THE WORLD BE CLOUDY AND GRAY OR BREEZY AND CLEAR??  

I opened my eyes and......

SUNSHINE!!  BLUE SKIES!!  WARM TEMPS! A WONDERFUL BREEZY DAY!!

(A prayer of "thanks" was definitely offered up.)

 The fun began with a bit of "fishing"....

 Then it was time for squirt guns and sliding....

 These little guys were having a wonderful time.  Anyone who ventured to close was bombarded with water from the water pistols.....which were filled, and refilled, and refilled, and refilled........

 Two squirt guns in hand are better than one in the water.....

 Lots of new faces in this bunch.....HUNGRY faces! 

 Big kids, little kids, even newborn babies!!.......

 Hot dogs, chips, and juice for the "small fry".....and "BIG fry"....

Presents patiently waiting to be opened.....

 This  "Little Ninja Turtle" had lots of help when it came to tearing paper.......

 So many really neat toys....(Looks like "Big A" couldn't wait to try out a few.)

An endless sea of bags and boxes........ 

 Well, almost endless....."Yep, that's the end of the line boys!"

 Time for the "big kids" to clean up while the "small fry" take a ride around the farm.  I think we may have set a Guinness Record for most kids on a Mule!!

"Leonardo" prepares to defend his territory....

"How many times do I have to say "cheese"?

"Yes, a Ninja sword cuts much better than a knife - ask any Ninja Turtle."

Blowing out the Ninja candles....

Enjoying ice cream and cake.  Yummy!.....

Another dip in the pools to wash off all the sticky....then....

...The Great Ninja Turtle Bubble Hunt....

Finding Ninja Bubbles is similar to finding Easter Eggs.  There are always a few that are never found or show up weeks or months later....just sitting there.....and you wonder how in the world were they not seen????.....

The balloons began to droop as the last guest left the party.  The party hosts were drooping also!   JR and I just sat outside for an hour or more and listened to the silence......wonderful, peaceful silence.  Hmmmm.....now what theme will the "Little Cowboy"  pick for next year?

Feeling Contented,

Dee Dee

Everything Spring!

In the blink of an eye, May came and went.  I felt like I was "going" most of the time -- more like "going, going, gone!".  So much to do and so little time to do it in.  School was winding down and there were I.E.P.'s to finalize.  I made the decision to retire - REALLY - and that meant more paperwork.  So much paperwork that I feared I would just give up and work another fifty years!  Thank goodness I returned to my senses!  Once the final decision was made, on top of everything else to do, I had to pack up my belongings. (That debacle will be shared at a later date.  I can only tell you that my back will never be the same!)  Well, back to May, where lots of warm weather activities were happening on the farm.  Hope you enjoy this small piece of my life.

 One warm, breezy afternoon became the perfect day to fly a kite.  Pooh, Stack (nick named by "Big A" because he was a "small stack" compared to him.....but then so is everyone else!), and two "little cowboys" look on in anticipation.

 It goes without saying that when you fly a kite you eat a Popsicle!
A banana Popsicle!

 That "bird" is flying high!

 May wouldn't be May without wind, rain, and hail.  We have had our fair share of all three this year.  

 Cedar trees came tumbling down.

 The next day the clean up would begin.    That's JR dragging the tree to the burn pile.  

 Between rain storms, time is spent looking through catalogs deciding which piece of equipment or tool needs purchased.  The "Little Cowboy" has his own opinion!

Sweet-faced calves were being born daily.  Naturally, ice cream and calf watching go hand-in-hand. Two donkeys decided to meander on over to see what all the fuss was about.

 "Hi Buddy.  Hi Brownie.  Want some ice cream?"

 When things slow down a bit, there are always sticks to pick up and throw in the creek.  It's a boy thing!

 After throwing sticks for awhile, it's time to stop and smell the flowers.

 It was definitely time to shave off all that long, bushy, shaggy, winter hair.   "Big A" and the 'Little Cowboy' showing off their trimmed hair.  Cool!

 A chore that soothes my soul - riding through the "yellow fields" while checking for newborn calves or mamas in distress.   I love the fields of yellow but, according to the big boys, they are WEEDS and must be sprayed.  I, for one, was sorry to see them wither and die.  SAVE THE YELLOW WEEDS!!

 Mother's Day was spent eating and visiting.  I started to say "resting" but I don't recall getting much rest that day!  For that matter, I don't recall resting at all during May!

 Yummy!  Pork Sandwiches, chips, baked beans, ice cream and cake!

 Laughter warms my heart!

 Looks like the "Little Cowboy" was eating bubbles for dessert!

 One late afternoon, "Big A" helped JR check the locks on the north pasture.  I went along for the ride - BIG mistake!  The mosquitoes were absolutely wild that evening! And us with NO mosquito spray!  The evening was warm and muggy - nevertheless, I had my jacket wrapped around my legs to ward off the bites.  JR reverted to spraying starter fluid on himself. (I certainly do NOT recommend this method.  Whatever was JR thinking?? It could be extremely dangerous, even lethal, should a spark appear out of nowhere.) "Big A" just toughed it out!   I can promise you that mosquito repellent will be stashed aboard the Mule from now on!!

 Last day of Preschool!  We celebrated the "Little Cowboy's" birthday with balloons, pizza, cookies, and juice.  Of course the decorations were Ninja Turtle - what else??  I was amazed that these preschool children were able to tell me the names of the Ninja Turtles and everything about them.  Ninja Turtles have names like Leonardo, and Michelangelo, and Raphael, and Donatello.  I guess simple names are no longer popular.  No more Mary, or Judy, or John, or Jack.  

 The "Little Cowboy" sharing a preschool moment with his best bud.

 The hail destroyed our neighbor's winter wheat crop so the stalks were cut and baled for other uses.  

 Good natured Molly getting ready to take Hollywood by storm - thanks to the "Little Cowboy"!

I absolutely LOVE walking on our farm.  Treasures pop up everywhere!  One day I found an egg and nest that was blown from its tree house.  Poor little birdie.....

Spring fever has set in!   "JR" scouting around for a new ATV.  Maybe - maybe not.

 The "Little Cowboy" and a friend spending the afternoon on the farm....eating banana pops.....

 ......cooling off....(yes, we need a larger pool but it worked last year!)......

.....and checking out the cows with "JR"...


I left out a most important part of May......a visit from 3 very special children.  Their mother used to spend time with us on the farm before she grew up and moved away. We were so very lucky to have her children spend a few afternoons with us while they were spending the week with Meme T and Papa G. More about this visit coming up soon.....

Dee Dee