4 months

So.... I haven't blogged in 4 months! Whoa. And I have 4 kids.... a coincidince? I think not. And my last blog was about spring cleaning.... lets just get it out there that I fully skipped spring cleaning and hired a housekeeper. Best, BEST decision I ever made. Who wants to deep clean your house when you are big pregnant? Or ever really?? So basically I am blogging just to get back into it. Cause when you have been gone so long... you are like... whoa... I better have something special to write about. And I want to write about having a girl after so many boys... really I do... but I am really tired. So I might just have to add a pic and be done with it. Yesterday I asked my boys "what does mommy do all day?" I fully expected them to say... play on the computer... etc. But they said..."Clean, cook, and breastfeed." And that is a direct quote. My 7 year old pointed out the fact that a third of my activities is breastfeeding. That does, in fact, pretty much sum up my life right now... and frankly I wouldn't have it any other way.



I love her. I love having a "her." I will be buying my weight in hairbows.



If you think we did not put a 6 week old in a planter of petunias... you would be wrong.



I could not love these boys more if I tried. I love their little brother too... but he just wouldn't sit still for pic!


I love him too.

So, I just previewed this post and realized I said "I Love" in basically all of my pic captions. Well... in a way that's just as well. I guess I don't so much mind cooking, cleaning, and breastfeeding.... as long as its with these guys :)

Mikie

Spring Cleaning. Basically... I don't even know what this is. Where I grew up... sunny AZ... I'm not sure that such a thing exsisted. Not because my mom didn't clean... oh no... just because it was basically always spring... or summer. So there was no definite time for this to occur. But I move to NE... and suddenly everyone is asking if you have started your spring cleaning, or what you are doing, and if you are done. So since all I can think of is washing windows... I thought I'd try a link up party. Which I have never done before... so we'll see how it goes. I figure this one would be good... because it falls in the time right before I have a very important guest coming... my number one blog reader! Yeah Mom! Now here's the thing. I actually like reading about cleaning... actually I LOVE reading about cleaning. I have a small addiction to cleaning and organization books. Ok, large addiction. For real. I have this dog earred copy of a great book called "Organize Yourself" that I clearly remember reading in the bathtub as a child on a Friday night for relaxation. My fave chapter was "Hangbag Organization." I would dream of the day I would have a handbag to organize. And now my handbag is basically a disaster all the time :) So here we go... someone should join me! Sister maybe? Doubt her house needs much cleaning though! Thought maybe posting it on my blog would actually help me follow through! We'll see..... on to draperies!

New Music!

Changed up my blog music today... the Christmas music was making me twitch. Changed to all Jesus music. And since all 7 followers of mine are Christians... I hope you enjoy it! I love to listen to music that is uplifting and places my thoughts squarely where they should be.... on God and God alone! Today has been the third day of bitter cold temps.... the reading this morning said -19! I had to step on the deck to see how cold it was... and it was quite chilly. Haven't had to go out in it.. .but now we are headed to Awana so we will be bundled up! Church is only 5 miles... so not too bad. Here are some recent pics of fun in the snow... but not taken in this cold... I won't let the littles out in this.

This is Cal- I bundled him up in a quilt and tucked him in a baby sled and then drug him all over... he really liked it and I didn't have to lug him around... now when I lug him... I think.. I am carrying 2 babies... they are getting heavy. (and one only weighs 5oz- or so the baby book says)

Here is my oldest... king of the mountain. I would have a pic of my middle boy but he went down the moutain, got a faceful of snow and then went inside to warm up.

And now down the mountain. Then came some fun with dad. Later this would be repeated with a four wheeler instead of dad pulling, but I didn't get pics of that. Ahh the look of pure delight on all of their faces! Winter is fun is its own way!

Winter- The View from my back porch

That seems to be 2 titles.... oh well. Both are true. I love the view from my back deck. Esp today.... when the cattle are gently plodding their way back home. They have been gone a little while, 6 miles south or so grazing a neighbors corn stalks. Now they are coming back to our corn fields.... and soon (and by soon I mean March) they will have babies. And we will enter another season on the ranch.... and arguably my fave... calving season. It is cold out.... esp for a cattle drive. But actually it was one of the warmer days this week.... I even bundled up the baby in his front carrier (those things are a beast no??) and the 3yo walked/ran/frolicked. Pure delight. We walked what I call the circle.... you head out my back driveway, around by the calves, in front of the tree row, turn at the calving pasture and you are back in my front driveway. I think if I do that 3-4 times... it equals a mile. But I did it once, whew and that was enough. The weather said it was 38 with a windchill of 29... so with hats and coats.... we were just toasty. Although with wind chapped cheeks when we got home.

That is my man sporting his new chinks (Christmas gift from me). What are chinks you ask? (or I had to ask anyway, maybe you are fluent in cowboy speak) Chinks are capri chaps. And chaps (pronounced shaps-apparently- also in cowboy land) are long leather things to keep your legs warm when you are working cattle. Now around here, I do notice people wearing them merely as an accessory... to church, to market, but at our place, they will only be seen when actually working cattle. I personally wouldn't mind if they made a trip into the bedroom... oops this is a family blog! But there's just not much cuter than a cowboy, esp my particular cowboy. I dare anyone to disagree :) (sidenote-cowboy is the incorrect term for hubs... but saying rancher or cattleman just doesn't have the flow. And he won't read this anyway... so I can call him what I want!) Cowboy I have learned... denotes a certain wanderlust, a recklessness, more wild... while rancher is a buisness owner. Now for my purposes... a cowboy is anyone on a horse, with chinks and hat. Maybe some wranglers. All good things! I love the line of cattle stretching out. I do not love the pic of the bag in the snow... but hey. Its kinda cold to clean your yard. Can't wait to play on that swingset again!


And here are some guys who come and help us... I'd tell you who they are... but I'm not sure they are ready to be famous. Ha!