Life Lessons

A friend recently describe my current season of parenting Layla as the character building season.  It's so true. The season where I'm working every day to fulfill her every physical need are over.  Now, it's about her deciding who she will be in this world.

Layla is dealing with a tough relationship in her life...an adult she loves very much, but doesn't understand. As we were talking through choices, we talked about how she can choose to forgive, like God forgives us. And how we can choose to love, because God loves us and instructs us to do the same.  Big stuff for an 8 year old.

Towards the end of our conversation she said, "Choosing to love might be the hardest thing I've ever done." I assured her, it's not a "skill" I've mastered!  It's a journey I'm still on and will be until the day I die.

Then she asked me, "Why can't everybody just be lovable so I can love everybody and just move on?!?"

Ha!  She's reflective, thoughtful..................and very no nonsense!

San Antonio

It's quite wonderful that the first round of the NCAA tournament is always the week of our kids' spring break.  And even more wonderful that ISU has made it to the big dance the last 3 years.  This year the Cyclones took us to San Antonio and we had a great time!  The kids aren't overly interested in going to ISU games with us during the season, but when tournament time rolls around, they catch the fever.

We had never been to San Antonio.  What a fun city.  We took in the River Walk, the Alamo, and the Tower of the America's.  The kids got to enjoy swimming outside and staying up way too late!  Cooper pointed out that it was his first time in a taxi and a water taxi, a big highlight for him!

The best part of the trip for all of us was the games.  The kids were so engaged.  As we waited for the refs review of the final seconds of the North Carolina game, Layla was a wreck!  She told me, "Mom, I just can't take it.  My stomach hurts."  OK, maybe a little too engaged.

The kids loved the pep rallies before each game and they got to high five all the players and coaches as they loaded the bus to make the trip from the hotel to the AT&T Center to play.  They thought that was so cool and now talk about the players as if they are close, personal friends.

Please note I am posting this blog update from home.  Where's Dave?  Oh yes, he's in New York City for the Sweet 16.  This mama couldn't miss her baby's birthday today or the party that's scheduled for Saturday. I will not, however, be missing the Final Four!!

My Boy

This little man decided that he would turn 6 today.  He is a joy.

Layla Lately

Second grade has been a GREAT experience for Layla.  Her teacher has brought out the best in her.  I cannot say enough about that woman!  The biggest change for Layla this year is that SHE HAS NOT SHED ONE TEAR ABOUT GOING TO SCHOOL AND BEING AWAY FROM MOM!  This is the first year this has ever happened.

Layla loves her classmates and has such a great group of girlfriends.  Most of them have been together in school for 3 years and since class sizes are very small they have sweet bonds.  Layla continues to love horses, 4H, country living, basketball, church, and is excited about any new experience. She's incredibly insightful and has amazing intuition about people.  I adore this girl!

Winter Adventures

Once pumpkin season ends and the holidays have come and gone, this Handsaker family takes to the road...and skies.  The last 3 months have been full of adventures, including the kids' first snow skiing adventure in Breckenridge.  It was a huge hit and one of our favorite family trips.  It even beat out Disney World...for which I am secretly thankful!

When it got too cold here in Iowa, we escaped to Florida and spent time taking in the sights and catching up with great friends.  Cocoa Beach was a little chilly, but the kids didn't care.  They love the beach and the ocean!

The kids' choice park in FL is Sea World so we knew we had to make a return visit.  Cooper's favorite thing (besides his souvenir sword) was the lecture by the Sea Rescue doctors and trainers.  Yes, a lecture.  In defense of his 5 year old self, these doctors and trainers were from his favorite TV show. Halfway through the lecture he turned to me and said, "I can't believe we're seeing the real Sea Rescue people!"  It was his most memorable moment of the trip.

Disney Magic

Lego Happiness

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