The Other Side of the Bed

Ivy is one of those kids where, upon waking up, she's either delightedly happy to see us or we're all wishing that she had woken up on the other side of the bed.
(But since the bed she sleeps in is pushed up flat against the wall, that's just me speaking figuratively.)

This morning, she apparently had a little toot that escaped.  I didn't hear it, I just heard of it.
When Ivy tooted, Ruby giggled.

From the living room, I heard Ruby giggle and then I heard Ivy:

"Don't.....laugh....AT MY BUTT!!!!!!"

This may be one of those other-side-of-the-bed mornings.

They Like to Walk With Grandpa

Fridays on the Farm

The title of my blog reveals that I am a farmer's wife.

I haven't blogged over-much regarding our farm life,

but it is a very important part of who I am individually and who we are as a family!

I grew up on a dairy farm, too.

My dad sold his cows in February 1995 and I married Dennis in September of 1996.

Aside from those intervening 19 months, I've spent my whole life on a farm!

Dennis has lived here his whole life--he's never even had a different phone number.

He's been a farmer since the day he was born. :)

In an effort to honor our heritage and our way of life, I wanted to start a new little something here on my blog.

I wish I was a little more tech-savvy so I could create a button

(Believe me, I tried!!  I'll keep trying, but if someone wants to help me I'd be ever so grateful!)

but for now we'll have to settle for this fun picture I created using a photo I took of my brother's barn.

The "new little something" I want to start will be called 

Fridays on the Farm.

I want to use it as a time to purposefully share a bit about our farm,

to show you what one small, family owned and operated, independent, dairy farm looks like.

There are very few such farms left.

Our is one of them.

So, without further ado, I'll begin!

The crops have been growing so well here in our area of MN this year.

We have been relatively unscathed by the drought that has swept it's way through the mid-west.

The boys had been in the field with Dennis this week and upon their return, they called me to the door to come look at this:

12 foot corn!

That is seriously tall corn, just so y'know.

Then, because boys will be boys, they began jousting with the stalks!

It was rather difficult to make any real impact on each other

but it was great fun nonetheless.

Christopher about busted a gut laughing at those brothers!!!

We are anxiously awaiting harvest,

when the corn can come off the field and go in to town.

If you'd like to share something about your farm

or a memory that this post triggered about an experience you had on a farm

I'd love for you to leave a comment!

If you have a blog, I'd love if you linked up to me

(feel free to grab the top picture until I get that little ol' button figured out)

with a Fridays on the Farm post of your own!

Ruby's Birthday

 Ruby was delighted with her ballet slippers,

 her BIG princess balloon,

and her Rice Krispie bar "cake"

 Ivy tried so hard to hold herself back from helping to blow

out those four candles...

 and then "helped" anyway.

 I love how Ivy is looking at Ruby in this picture--

she loves her so much.

a hug for the birthday girl

I attempted to create a flower using M&M's and frosting

as the "glue" that would hold them on the 'cake'.

Adults might not be so impressed (ok--at all impressed)

but Ruby was delighted!

I thought the 4 turned out well, however.

After our treats, I took Ruby to town to pick out a birthday dress.

It was fun to watch her shop, because we rarely, if ever, shop for fun.

I let her look to her heart's content,

responded to each exclamation of "Oh, MOMMY, look!!!"

and just took our time.

She was so cute with her opinions,

saying "this doesn't look like a birthday dress"

or "this really does look like a birthday dress".

We went to a mall and looked in two stores but everything was just so expensive

so we went to Target where she picked out a pretty one.

Surprise!  It's pink.

I just love her...

Serious Business

On the day of my grandpa's funeral,

Ivy sat with my dad while he visited with a cousin of his.

Ruby was also sitting nearby and when my dad's cousin asked Ivy to tell her her name,

Ivy decided to try to put one over on her:

she answered--with this deadpan face--that her name was Ivy Kathryn,

which is Ruby's middle name.

Teasing looks like serious business to Ivy.

Ivy kept it up for a moment, then her face just couldn't hold back how funny she thought her little joke was!

She and Grandpa Wayne always love to tease--

each other & anyone else!

 The picture could be easily misunderstood--

the cousin was not trying to strike my adorable daughter,

she was going to "beep" Ivy's nose for teasing her!

Look at the twinkle in those eyes!

We say she's sugar, spice, and a little cayenne pepper. 

She keeps things interesting, that's for sure!

Sometimes I Just Like to Watch Her Sleep

Good Morning, Birthday Girl!

Ruby--fresh out of bed on her 

4th birthday!

 A little bit more awake

and ready to enjoy her day!

Ruby, Mommy and Elizabeth are going on a little date today.

We'll come back home for ice cream sundaes

and a Rice Krispie bar "cake".

More pictures later!