Pumpkin Season

Even though there's now snow on the ground, I am still wrapping up pumpkin season.  Although our property is cleaned up within hours of closing day, with little to no signs left of The pumpkin Ranch, there is still a lot of administrative tasks to be completed...my least favorite part of running a business!  I will put these tasks off as long as I can.  It is the only part of my life where I fully embrace procrastination!

2013 was a great year at The Pumpkin Ranch.  One of the best parts of running a family business is just that...running a business and working hard as a family!  It stretches Dave and I as a couple and always brings us closer, with a deeper level of respect for the other's gifts and abilities.  As parents, we love to see our kids learn new skills and work hard.  They learned years ago that hard work = money and more opportunity.

This year Layla wanted to "have" a part of the business.  She wanted to add something that could be just hers.  She decided to sell prepackaged candy.  She learned what it was like to...

1.  Have a business plan...where can she buy the best, cheapest product and can she sell it for a profit?
2. Take a risk and invest her money
3. Borrow money
4. How to manage her books and inventory
5. Reinvest profit back into her business
6. In the end, pay back her loan and disperse funds into savings, giving, and spending

What a great process for a newly minted 8 year old!  The very best part for us, her parents, was seeing her really process what to do with her profits.  She knows she's required to save 50%, give at least 10%, and then she can decide what do with what is left (spend, save, or give).  We kept our mouths shut and let her work through those decisions on her own.  We were so proud of her choices.

Here are a few pictures of the kids' after hours fun at The Ranch.  They love the zip lines!

She's 8

Tomorrow Layla turns 8.  She's beautiful inside and out.  She's fiercely courageous and has an amazing gift of mercy.  Her feet are firmly planted.   She thinks ahead, she's organized...and quietly very competitive. Her favorite thing is when the 4 of us are together...doing anything  She loves to read and write stories.  She will try anything at least once and her number one dream is to be a mom.  She's a mixture of indoor and outdoor girl, of tomboy and girly girl.

What an amazing adventure it is to parent her.   She's extraordinary.

Layla on Grace this summer

Ice fishing on our pond this past winter

One of her first stories.  She wrote on her 7th birthday.

Layla on Buddy in December

First Day is in the books!

Yesterday was the first day of school for our kids. I am happy to report that we all did great!  Cooper came home wound for sound and Layla came home relaxed and happy....and that all lasted about 2 hours before they both started showing signs of a stomach bug.  A slightly rough night, but they seem to be on the mend today.  It's not so bad having day 2 of school off, sleeping in and watching movies all morning.  We'll just ease into this school thing!

When we got to school yesterday some older students, the principal, administrator, and mascot were greeting the kids.  What a joyful distraction for all of us!  The kids walked themselves in and Dave and I drove away with a few tears in our eyes.

When I have to deal with something hard, I push through it and deal with the emotions later.  Yesterday morning, I just put a smile on my face, a spring in my step, and pushed through the process of my baby starting full time school.  Dave, knowing that it was a hard morning for me, took me out for coffee after drop off.  I then went to the gym for a very long work out and spent the rest of the day catching up on a lot of admin for The Pumpkin Ranch.  It was a good day.  Thanks to all who prayed for us and checked in on me yesterday!

Little Answered Prayers...

About a year ago I started praying that God reveal to me our kids' gifts and interests so that I would be able to nurture those areas of their lives.  Since Layla was 3 she's loved horses, but what little country girl doesn't, right?  Since praying that prayer, God has brought us 2 more horses. Hmmmmm, maybe I should start paying attention to what God is revealing!

At the beginning of the summer we received a call from a neighbor who knew of an old 4H horse who needed a new home.  The kids and our horse expert friends rode her.  She was dead broke and it was a done deal.  No one knew her name.  Immediately, without thought, Layla picked Grace.  Well, in my mind, there were surely more unique, fun horse names than Grace, right?  No, Layla was stuck on Grace because of it's meaning in her life....God's unmerited favor.  Can't really argue with that!

In July we received another call....a horse was in need of a home.  I wasn't sure about Creek...the call came from a trainer...a race horse trainer.  He's a Thoroughbred...a race horse...retired due to injury.  Do you understand all of my concerns?  Well, we rode him, fell in love with him, and he came to live at our house.

And, of course, Buddy is still here ruling the roost!  And, ALWAYS getting into the burs!  He's in the same pasture as the other 2 horses, yet they stay clear of these nasty, pokey, hard to remove, little nuisances!. This is how Buddy looked when he greeted us last week.  Yes, he got a haircut.  There was no hope for removal!

The Bottle Calf Show

On Friday evening all bottle calves had to report to the fairgrounds in preparation for the Saturday afternoon show. Cooper was completely in his element.  As kids and bottle calves arrived he made his way through the barn talking to every kid and petting every calf.  What he talked about with all these kids, I have no idea.  But, watching him, there was no doubt whose son he was.  The apple does not fall far from the tree (and I'm not talking about this tree).

By Saturday morning, the kids were excited!  They went in early to get Cowgirl all cleaned up and to eat breakfast at one of the food stands.  They came home, rested, picked out their "calf showing clothes" and we headed back to the fair for the big event.  The kids were split into classes by age.  Each participant in the class had to walk their calf around the ring, answer interview questions from the judge, and keep their calf under control while the other participants were interviewed.  Both kids and, more importantly, Cowgirl, did great!  

There was no doubt that Cooper enjoyed every manure-filled, sweaty second of it.  He was grinning from ear to ear the whole time.  He was all about the show.  Layla was super composed and did awesome on her interview.  She went from just tolerating it all on Friday to really enjoying the process on Saturday.  

One of the things that made it so special for our kids was all of the friends and family who came to watch. Even the announcer commented on their cheering section when he announced their names when they entered the ring.  They are incredibly blessed kids to have so many people in their lives who care about what they do!  And, as we said prayers tonight, they both thanked God for Cowgirl and said they're ready to do it again next year.

Growing Up

It has been such a JOY to have Layla with me every day this summer.  First grade changed her...matured her.  She had to deal with a few tough personalities at school this year and there were times that it was hard for me not to call school and "straighten things out."  Instead, I felt that God gave us those opportunities to teach, learn and grow.

Layla had the chance to decide whether to just read the Word or read it AND put it into action in her life. She learned how to stay in peace and joy, even when her circumstances were hard and people around her were grumpy or unkind.  She decided to lean on the Lord when what she really wanted to do was cry and call mom.  She toughened up a bit, but she did not become hard...that's God's sweet handiwork.

I had to learn to trust what God was doing in my 7 year old and in her circumstances.  My black and white personality was stretched.  Instead of just telling Layla what to do, I had to guide her and help her listen to the Lord...and then let go just a little more.

We're approaching Layla's 8th birthday.  A friend of mine told me that 6 and 7 were emotion filled ages for her daughter, but that 8 is great.  I've seen that shift in Layla in the last 6 months.  It's been fun to see her mature.  To hear her very grown up thoughts.  To give her more freedom and to see how that freedom is bringing out God's plans for her.

Ei Ei Oh

At some point, I'm not sure when, I became Mrs. Old McDonald.  I know when the old part happened.  I'm just not sure how the farmer part happened.  Since April we've collected 2 new horses, a bottle calf and have had a litter of 8 lab puppies.  Needless to say, our evenings are busy around here.  Between riding, grooming, training, and cuddling....we've officially become a farm.

Yes, some mornings she just wants to get out there and doesn't care if she's in her PJ's...and neither do I.

 I think it was like 95 degrees the night I took this picture.  But he doesn't care.  Cowboys wear "long sleeve fancy shirts with jeans, a fancy belt, boots, and a hat."

Here are the pups at about 2 or 3 weeks.  I really need to take a new picture.  They are so cute right now. Their look is much more puppy and much less rat meets walrus.

A Blur of Motion

We just returned from a week at the Kalahari in the Wisconsin Dells.  It was a wonderful, fun, at times stressful, but great trip.  We went non-stop from 9am-9pm each day.  We made the most of every minute and every activity the resort offered.

This week is all about our first county fair.  Layla joined 4H this winter and LOVES it.  We are blessed with a great leader who makes it fun and shows more patience than I've ever possessed in one single second of my life!

Layla completed a craft project and the kids have been caring for a bottle calf since April.  Her name is Cowgirl and they have been troopers about being her sole care givers...which included giving her 2-3 bottles every day...rain, sleet, snow or hail.  They did it without complaining and without Dave or my help.  It's a huge responsibility for a 7 and 5 year old and we're really proud of them!  This week they get to take her to the fair and each of them gets to show her on their own.

The judge will interview them about the calf and then they have to walk her around the ring to show that she's been cared for and they have control over her (I think that's the goal, but I've never been in 4H nor have I ever walked a calf on a "leash" so I don't really know...this is totally Daddy's jurisdiction)!

Westward

There is nothing better in my life than summer time!  I get to be with our kids everyday, we get to stay up late if we want, we sleep in, we have very few regularly scheduled activities...what more could I ask for in a season?

 

Last week we took our first trip of the summer.  We drove through South Dakota and out to Sheridan, WY and the Big Horn Mountains.  We did all of the great attractions in South Dakota and truly enjoyed them.  We hit Bear Country, Wall Drug (maybe this wasn't that enjoyable, but the story of how it all started is awesome!), Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, The Badlands, and Custer State Park.  All lovely.

 

But, the best part of it all was WY.  We got to be a part of one of my best friends' life, which included a lovely home at the top of a secluded mountain.  No cell phone, no TV, and most roads required and ATV.  Stacey and Eric took us on so many great adventures...there are no words.  It really was one of our favorite family trips. 

 

 First stop on the trip was The Badlands.  The kids thought this was pretty cool.  Cooper still can't remember what they're called....Badlands, Bad World, Bad Islands...whatever works.  We all know what he's talking about.

 

No explanation needed....Mt. Rushmore.  Did you know that 90% of the carving of Mt. Rushmore was done with dynamite?  90%!

Meadow after meadow of sweet smelling wildflowers.  One of my favorite things on Big Horn.

The lovely river in the canyon below the cabin.  We could not see this river from the deck of the cabin, but we could hear it...so lovely and peaceful.

 

Halfway up the side of the mountain.  The kids were pooped out and had to take 3 breaks.  But, they knew there was a cave at the top.

 

 

 After an intense hike, we made it to this great cave Eric discovered when he was 10 years old.  It was cool, but I only made it halfway through...a little claustrophobic!  But the kids gave it rave reviews.  Cooper said is was "creepy and awesome!"

Our little clan.

SAIGE!!!

Layla started saving her birthday money last August for a new American Girl Doll.  She wasn't sure which one she wanted next...until the 2013 doll was announced.  Saige loves horses and art...need I say more?  Since August Layla has had to say no to little toys here and there that she's wanted to buy.  She's saved many times for items over the years, but never something as expensive as an American Girl Doll.  She stayed focused in her saving for 8 months.  And finally, here is Saige.

We teach the Layla to split her money into spend, give, and save envelopes.  Layla also got to take her saved money to the bank and open her first savings account.  Seeing her envelope of saved money being counted out and deposited was so rewarding for her.  She looks forward to getting her bank statement every month.

It's hard for me, as a parent, to teach our kids delayed gratification.  Probably because I'm not good at it myself and because we don't live in a world that practices it.  Just because we can do or buy something for them doesn't always mean we should...something I'm continually working on in myself!

Butch and The Sundance Kid

While I soaked up the sun poolside in Scottsdale a few weeks ago with my girls, Daddy and the kids went shopping and came home with a calf.  Yes, as in a baby "cow".  Cooper has been asking and asking and Daddy caved.  Her name is Cowgirl and she was just a few days old when she came to live with us.  This means the kids have to get up before school to feed her a bottle and do it again after school.

What does Mom think of this?  I've always said they can get a bottle calf as long as they're old enough to take care of it.  Dave and I, especially me, are NOT taking care of it...at all...ever.

Cooper grumbles most mornings when he has to get up earlier than normal, but Layla has never complained. Layla carries the bottle out to the barn and Cooper carries his BB gun... "to protect them if a bad guy, skunk, or coyote tries to get them."

Cinco

Cooper Then

Cooper Now (ish)

As we tucked the kids into bed tonight, we reminisced about what our little family of 3 was doing 5 years ago on this very night.  Layla was 2 and eagerly anticipating being a big sister.  Dave was sure he was going to have a son.  And me, I was well beyond my due date with my second child, larger than large, about as nauseous as I had been my first trimester, and so deliriously happy.  Only the hormones of a pregnant woman could make her that happy in such circumstances.

The next morning, with Layla still snug in bed, our friend Jaime on babysitting duty, Dave and I drove to Des Moines to be induced and meet our second child.  When I delivered that evening, the doctor announced, "It's a boy!"

He then asked, "What are you going to name him?"  And, without thinking, I said, "Cooper David."  To which Dave replied, "We are?"  I said, "Is that OK?"  It obviously was!

When I tuck Cooper in at night, we say our prayers, we kiss and hug and I tell him he's the very best boy.  To which he replies that I'm the very best mom.  I tell him I love him.  He tells my he loves me more.  I tell him I loved him first.  He tells me he'll have to think about that some more.  He has yet to come up with a reply after that...because he can't.  He will never be able to trump my love for him.

Spring Break

Spring Break was....GLORIOUS!  There is no other word to explain it.  We hemmed and hawed about going somewhere over the break, but had a lot going on professionally.  You know how much we like to go, so staying home was a very disciplined move for us...especially with the Cyclones playing in the NCAA just 10 hours away!  BUT, being home this week was....you guessed it....GLORIOUS!

We started spring break in Kansas City last Thursday through Saturday for the Big 12 Tournament.  We saw many great games and were able to do lots of kids things as well.  We stayed at Crown Center and and went to Lego Land, Sea Life, Fritz's, Crayola Cafe...you get the idea.  The highlight was definitely our outdoor, rooftop, heated pool at the hotel.  The kids have never swam on a rooftop and it was 82 degrees Friday.

Although KC was great, the best part of Spring Break was just being with my kids.  I felt like I got to know Layla again.  I think the kids felt the same way about each other as well.  They were 2 peas in a pod.  When I was home with babies, I purposed to enjoy my days, yet dreamed about the future when I would get pieces of my life back.  I've so enjoyed having those pieces back...but I also miss having every day with my kids!

Needless to say, we are now on a major countdown to summer break...9 weeks and 1 day.  I'm trying to focus on that rather than the fact it's been snowing here for 24 hours straight!

This was a typical day on Spring Break...jammies all day and many projects.  Layla headed up this project.  She made herself a Repunzel hat and she made Cooper some sort of a Kung Fu Panda/ISU top hat.

Shot through the heart...

...and this little man is to blame!  Why?  Because this little stinker thinks he's going to turn FIVE on Wednesday.  There is something about the number 5 that hits a mama right in the heart.  It's the final wave good-bye to the toddler and a firm hello to boy.  I don't like it.  You know me, every year I want to freeze time at every birthday.  

Since the kids' Elmer Fudd moment a few weeks ago, Cooper has been wandering outside everyday...by himself...waiting to shoot geese.  He's usually dressed head to toe in camo and can't understand why the geese and ducks on our pond fly away before he gets within shooting distance.  Last week he decided he needed his Frankenstein Halloween mask to cover his face.  He was sure the only reason the geese were flying away so quick is because they could see his face. 

He spends a lot of time outside walking around, talking, shooting things, investigating, peeing...you know, the basic boy things. 

A love with my love!

Layla played basketball last year and wasn't too excited about the sport.  This year she debated between cheerleading and basketball.  I kept my opinion to myself (which doesn't come easy for me) and encouraged her to follow her heart.  I was so excited she chose basketball!

This year she loved basketball!  She was able to play on an all girl team and 4 of her teammates were from her school.  Plus, I got to help coach her team!  Layla improved so much this year and I got to see my mild mannered girl find her competitive spirit.  She loved playing and did it with a smile on her face the whole time...and a with deep desire to win.  This surprised Dave and I and anyone who knows my girl.

For me, it was so fun to share the love of basketball with Layla.  God used basketball in my life to encourage me and help me find my way.  Will God use it in Layla's life in the same way?  Maybe, maybe not.  Either way, this year was a blast!  I will miss this time with Layla and the wonderful girls she played with.  They were awesome!

Cooper's Aha Moments

Cooper is at that age where a lot of things are clicking in that little brain of his.  Here are a few of my favorite Aha moments of his.

While riding quietly in the car on the way to school the other day, Cooper exclaims, "I know why they call it sun block!  Because it's lotion that blocks the sun!"

While watching two people dance on TV, "Oh, you're just supposed let the girl step away and twirl under your arm.  I thought you were supposed to push her."

After playing a tough sweaty game of indoor football, he sits at the kitchen counter to have a drink and says, "Man, we need a big heater to cool us down."

To which Layla quickly corrects him, "No Bud, a heater will make you hotter."

"Oh, then I wish we had a big machine that would make colder air come in our house."

I don't say anything.  I give him a few seconds.

"Wait a minute!  We do have that machine.  Is that the air conditioner?"

These sweet loves...

 I love these two and their daddy.  They remind me every day with WORDS and ACTIONS that I am loved, cherished, appreciated and beautiful in their eyes.  I am blessed!  Here are some Valentine's Days of old!

Layla 1/2

Layla 2 1/2

Layla 3 1/2, Cooper 11 months

 Layla 4 1/2, Cooper 23 months