Punkins at the Pumpkin Patch

On Wednesday afternoon/early evening, after Pops got home and the treekids finished their schoolwork, we headed out to our local pumpkin patch.

I got a good laugh when we drove up because our kids were SHOCKED to find other people there! We have gone to the pumpkin patch in the middle of the afternoon for so long, that we haven't encountered people in the patch, so they have always treated it like it was THEIR space! This time, there were several other pumpkin picking families... but it is a large patch and we had more than enough space in which to hunt for THE one to take home.

In fact, some of us can't seem to think that THE pumpkin might be close to the vehicle in which it would need to be placed... SOME people believe that THE pumpkin of choice is in the furthest reaches of the pumpkin patch.

Other small fry are propped up with pumpkins and taken pictures of while they experience the pumpkin patch for the very first time!

Definitely our "outdoor kid," Bump couldn't wait to go explore and find a big round ball for his very own!

On his way, he found Branch had discovered her pumpkin pick. Its muddiness did not make itself inclined to be used as a seat... and one must stay very far away from dirt, lest one gets dirty.

Then we found Blossom sitting amongst the pumpkins... I do not believe that I ever ended up with a picture of her with her "one." She kept picking a new one. Every time she said she'd found "it," she would walk away and find a new one. She finally settled on one as I was walking to the pay stand when Pops said, "Ya better pick ONE or you won't have one." She kept telling us how she wanted MORE than one. One of anything is never enough for this one!

I finally made it to the back forty and found Bud camped out with this giant... it weighed 40 pounds or so. He was searching for the most giant pumpkin still in the patch. There were bigger pumpkins up at the stand that had already been picked, but there is no fun in picking one off of the gravel!

Then, I headed back and found that this cute little punkin had chosen this "little beauty" for Pops to load into the van.

And by then, it was time to pay... we were hungry for Supper! We need to get back to pumpkin pickin' in the early afternoon!

Wordless Wednesday

My Daybook, Entry #45

FOR TODAY
Tuesday, Oct 26, 2010...

Outside my window... 44 very cloudy with a few scattered low lying clouds, the colors are changing on the mountainside to show a beautiful masterpiece of many shades of green, golden and a few pops of red... OH, fall is HERE - I LOVE FALL!!!

I am thinking... about organization. How to organize my life with all that I NEED to do and continue to do all that I WANT to do!! Lists are good, but not good enough! What tips do you have for staying on track? Yes, I've tried "FlyLady" but I get sucked in by the excessive emails and that derails my efforts. Any other ideas??

I am thankful for... Oregon. Who knew it was going to be the most beautiful place I have ever lived!?!

From the learning rooms... I have learned something. Unit studies are VERY mom intensive. I sure hope that these treekids are enjoying their unit studies because I am not going to undertake a year-long unit study ... EVER. AGAIN. I will consider doing a week long unit study as a break from the regular grind, but unit study all year? NOPE!! Congrats to all those moms and dads out there who do unit studies and are successful.

From the kitchen...

Tues: I'm all cooked out for, this is day 6 of Pops being away. I want take out!! We'll see...

Wed: Steaks (Pops is scheduled to be home for supper!) with acorn squash and broccoli

Thurs: Hamburgers, sweet potatoes, salads

Fri: Enchiladas, salsa, guacamole, tortilla chips,

Sat: Roast, mashed potatoes, corn

Sun: Meatloaf, baked potatoes, peas

Mon: Chicken stir fry and rice

I am wearing... I don't think I will keep this question on here in the future. You must all think that I only wear gray pants. Which is partly true, but not entirely. It must just be my Tuesday uniform!!

I am creating... sanity in an insane situation (or at least I am trying!).

I am going... to the post office today. One of my biggest hopes/wishes/requirements/demands of our next home... Mail delivery to a mail box at our home. I do not like traipsing downtown to pick up the mail or to mail a simple letter. I would like it to be at the end of the driveway where the treekids could get the mail and send out their own letters whenever they would like.

I am reading... some ideas for the upcoming season of advent and Christmas. A bit early, yes, but if I hope to do anything new, I better get things ordered and organized by mid November!

I am hoping... to find a system to put into place for keeping things on track. I think most people call it a routine or something similar. But, I just want a system that will work for us all!

I am hearing... dadadadadadada. That is Bump's word that means, dad, dog, cat, toy, ball... and all this time Pops was thinking he said his first word and it was "dad." NOT SO FAST, Buster! He only says "mamama" when he wants ME!!

Around the house... 95% of the laundry is clean, folded and put away. The living room is tidy, the laundry room just got an overhaul, we have been schooling in the kitchen/dining room and it SHOWS. YIKES!! Since the loft is not the safest place to take Bump and pay attention to 500 million things at once, the only schooling that goes on up there these days is computer work, which is math, typing and a phonics program.

One of my favorite things... have I mentioned my Dyson Animal here before? If not... oh, my!! I have had it just shy of a year and I love how well it cleans my carpets! You should see the sheer quantity of dust and assorted dirt that I through away out of the canister.

A few plans for the rest of the week... Pops will get home on Wednesday, we hope to hit the pumpkin patch, costumes need to be figured out, school work needs to be accomplished, children need to get well... looks like a busy week is headed our way!

A picture thought I am sharing...

This is from our last trip to the coast at the end of August. I am itchin' to go back again.

To read more daybooks or to join in the fun, head over to Peggy's.

Times Are A-Changin' at the Treehouse

Yes, I am STILL here. In my same house. With my same four crazy treekids and Pops. For now.

"Life" has been super crazy here at the treehouse. Pops has been promoted to a new position within the company he works for. That means a move for our family. That means until we move, Pops is commuting via air to the midwest nearly every week. We won't move until after the first of the year. I am wondering if I will have hair when we move...

So, a snapshot of what life looks like right now - Pops leaves and we hold down the fort. We try to get all of our schooling completed in the morning. We TRY to stay on our best behavior and not drive anyone else crazy.

We are making grand attempts at letting go of "stuff" and creating a big "donation pile" so that we don't have to find a place for excess stuff in a new home. We are learning to keep all the little bitty toys off the floor so that Bump doesn't find them. We are learning how to be 15 minutes from show-ready at all times in our house. (Uh, can I just groan and say that 4 little kids at home all day every day and a clean home hope. I think that keeping the house ready to show is going to drive me mad!)

We are eating strange meals. For supper today, we ate mac-n-cheese and celery. At noon, we had grilled cheese, chips and cauliflower and a plate of various cheeses as we talked about America's Dairyland, Wisconsin, for Branch's 50 States Unit Study. Breakfast was tasty with french toast and peaches dressed with vanilla yogurt. I need my grill master around more, yes - he is sure good for that!

To top it all off... it seems that Bud, Blossom and Bump have some kind of a virus with runny/stuffy nose and sore throats. Cute moment: Blossom was telling me all about what ails her and she said, "My nose wants to run, but there is a stop sign in it so that it doesn't run. I can't even blow it out past the stop sign." Huh? Where does she get this stuff?? She also was telling me that her neck hurts. What? Well, she slept out of her bed the other night, so I figured that was the trouble. I overheard her talking again about her hurting neck. So I asked, "Does it hurt ON your neck or IN your neck?" She pointed ... one finger at the front of her neck and one in her mouth... "Inside my neck, Mama. IN.SIIIIIDE my neck." OH, I see, that is called your THROAT! Goodness gracious, child.

We are excited about what may come for us as this craziness winds down. We don't really know yet where we will move, or when for that matter. All we know is that we could be anywhere in the middle of the country near, say, Kansas or Oklahoma or Nebraska or somewhere around those parts. When we know more... we'll know! Currently, Pops is in Oklahoma, next week - maybe Iowa, so the following week might bring Kansas to his schedule. It is all new and different!

So, if I don't show up regularly around the blog-o-sphere it is just because I am treading water and am just barely keeping my head above the surface most days! I am not purposefully neglecting all my peeps... I just can't find the where-with-all to get everything done! I'll show up every time I am at the shallow end!

And to all of my midwest friends... See ya soon!!! And my west coast friends... We will miss you all! Come visit us in the frigid winters or the blistering summers!

Mamas, Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up...

to be cowboys or any other kind of rough sportsmen (rugby, football, wrestling, boxing, etc!), is what I say!!

It can all start out looking so nice and pretty...

Then, in a flash...

it can all change.

Your heart comes up into your throat as you wait...

to see what becomes of mere seconds.

I was in such shock with my finger pressed for rapid fire shots that when I looked up to see that he was ok, I forgot to snap the picture of him tipping his hat and taking a knee.

OH, that poor mother. Maybe she jut doesn't even watch. I don't think that I could!

My Daybook, Entry #44

FOR TODAY
Tuesday, Oct 5, 2010...

Outside my window... 65 and sunshine

I am thinking... about my friend from college. Her 7 moth old baby boy was found not breathing in his crib at the end of nap time at day care yesterday. Things aren't looking good for them as they are getting test results back this afternoon. She has been on my mind all day today and last night. I pray that she and her husband find the strength and peace of God to carry them through. Would you pray with me??

I am thankful for... all the time that I get to spend with my children while we learn together.

From the learning rooms... Bud is still working on a Narnia Unit Study, Branch has transitioned over to a 50 States Unit Study and Blossom is working very hard at her 3 R's... and I am seeing some SERIOUS progress in her reading... but OH, she digs her heels in when we push a little!!

From the kitchen...

Tues: Kielbasa, Kraut, Applesauce, Apple Cider... signs of fall, y'all!

Wed: Chicken Nuggets or left over chili (for me! chicken nuggets are GROSS!)

Thurs: OUT - I am thinking I will be ready to have a "break"

Fri: BBQ Pork... Bump and I had a little sample at our local grocer's open house - it was SOOO yummy and Bump couldn't get enough! He had a little all around his mouth... just drippin' and droolin' every where as we walked through the store.

Sat: Pops will be grilling brats for breakfast, juicy burgers for noon and we'll go breakfast for supper!

Sun: Meatloaf

Mon: any ideas for an easy option??

I am wearing... Gray knit pants with "HUSKERS" printed down the leg, a red knit top and my hair up in a knot

I am creating... well, I created Banana Bread and it was yummy!

I am going... to be home with my treekids this week without Pops. He is going to be gone for work. I miss him ALREADY!

I am reading... for Book Club - The Thirteenth Tale by... Diane Setterfield (YES, still - just renewed it from the library!!)

I am hoping... for some medical miracles.

I am hearing... giggling children.

Around the house... still working on that reward chart. Need to be doing more getting rid of stuff.

One of my favorite things... snuggling my babe to sleep in a rocking chair.

A few plans for the rest of the week... SURVIVAL.

A picture thought I am sharing...

"Tough Enough to Wear Pink" Day at The Pendleton Round-Up

I wore a strand of pink beads in honor & remembrance of all those women I know who have undergone the challenge of Breast Cancer. I wore an extra strand and the rest of my pink stuff in honor of Becky Torrens, the mother of my maid-of-honor and best friend in college, who is the latest woman (whom I know) to have been given the diagnosis of breast cancer. She is in the trenches battling this disease. Would you add her to your prayer list, too?

To read more daybooks or to join in the fun, head over to Peggy's.