Wednesday, June 27, 2012

meet our new cousin and nephew

Addyson and Braden have a new cousin . . .

Meet Caden!!


My brother Carlin and his wife Angela welcomed this sweet little boy into their family.

So we took a road trip over the weekend to go meet him!

Addyson and Braden were so excited to get to see him, but when we showed up this was Braden's expression:


He just stared at Caden with a weird look on his face. He could NOT figure out why he wouldn't get up and play!


Addyson just kept asking to "pet" him. Nice.

But Ryan and I were more than happy to take a turn holding him. I forgot how much fun it was to hold a newborn. And Caden seems to be an amazing baby - we never saw him fuss other than when he got his diaper changed. His parents are obviously doing a superb job.




We managed to squeeze in some time for other things too.

Here's Braden reading books with Great-grandma Dyck.


He also made lots of time to play with Grandpa and Grammy Dyck and see some other family too.


And Addyson got some guitar practice with Uncle Carlin.

It was a fun trip and Addyson and Braden did AWESOME on the drives - best they have ever, ever done. Sure made the trip a lot less stressful and a good chance to get away and celebrate new life that God has given!!!

Congratulations Carlin and Angela - you have a precious little boy! Glad we got to snuggle him this weekend.

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Sprinkles and Stickernoodles

In between all the whining, screaming, and demanding - Addyson and Braden have managed to say some super cute stuff lately. And I'd rather remember those things they have been saying than the yuckies that are coming out of their mouths. So here are a few of my favorites:

Braden after his bath: "Do I have sprinkles today?"
He's asking if he has pruny wrinkled hands and feet from playing in the bathtub so long. Side note - we take bathtubs at our house instead of baths. I don't know why they decided to call it that but there's no changing their minds.

Addyson's favorite show to watch right now is Perry on the House - "Little House on the Prairie" in case you didn't catch that one. Lots of horses and animals and Addyson thinks it's hilarious that Carrie falls down every time in the flowers and meadow during the opening song. She's so surprised that it happens every single time!

Addyson : "I liked making those cookies with you. The ones with the sand and the salt."
Me : "Which cookies?" (of course I have so many recipes with sand I just wasn't sure which one she was referring to)
Addyson - "stickernoodles"
(translation - snickerdoodles)

Speaking of cookies - here are a few recipes for some of the quick easy desserts I made to take out to the field for wheat harvest. I have searched the internet before for recipes that were easy to transport and feed a crowd but apparently there aren't categories created for "harvest meals" - at least not what I mean! Apparently it's not a popular thing to google. So I thought maybe some of you could benefit from these - besides who doesn't want something easy and sweet - plus the kids seemed to really like making and eating these.


http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/Peanut-Butter-Cereal-Treats


http://allrecipes.com/recipe/easy-chocolate-crackled-cookies/detail.aspx?event8=1&prop24=SR_Title&e11=easy%20chocolate%20crackled%20cookies&e8=Quick%20Search&event10=1&e7=Recipe%20Hub


Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Wilbur

Look what the boys found!!!


Braden and Ryan were out loading some hay bales this morning and they spotted this little fawn! And Ryan caught him so Braden could pet him. In case you can't tell - Braden was completely terrified and screaming. They named him Wilbur and let him go back to his mama. He was a little guy - not very old and still a little wobbly. Isn't he cute???

Addyson stayed home with me and was playing with bubbles on the back porch while I washed some windows. She asked why I didn't catch her a baby deer. I told her we didn't see one - because obviously I am so capable of capturing a wild animal if I ever have the chance. :)

And since I accidentally created such suspense about what sort of vehicle we now own - here it is!


Sorry to disappoint all of you who were guessing mini-van. Now you can recognize us on the road and give us a big wave!!!

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Wheat Harvest 2012

Wheat harvest was completed last Friday - June 8. We started May 29. Yes MAY!!! I think that's the first time wheat has been harvested in May around here. Crazy early!!! Usually an early starting date would be June 8, and we were finished! I am very confused at what time of the year it is. I seriously thought it was July a couple days ago and was sure summer was at least half way over. But I think we have only begun - hot temperatures and wind will be here for a lot longer!!!

We are thankful for the good yields the Lord provided . . . and for safety too. And that it's over.

My camera never made it out to the field. My three-year-olds and harvest were about all I could handle. Someone please tell me that they will not be this whiney and demanding forever!!! I thought my patience was tested to the limits by preemie twins, but I seriously think this is harder. I have never wanted to yell and run and hide as much as in the last few weeks. Anway, these are the few pics I snapped with my phone - at least with Instagram they look a little prettier!


We tried to take our lunches and eat in the combine with daddy, and spend some time around supper with him too.


As long as he was eating, Braden was pretty excited to be spending time with his daddy.


Daddy was busy keeping the operation going.


Addyson insisted that she climb the ladder all.by.herself. And she totally did. She could barely reach the bottom step to get up, but she pulled with all her might and climbed it every time. While sporting shiny pink butterfly cowboy boots and a "regular" pony tail (her daily request). Because that's how she rolls.


This year wheat harvest was interrupted by a pretty scary thunderstorm, rain showers, goats getting out of their pen (Braden thankfully was ready to round up Otis) . . .  and almost every day we had cattle out of the pasture. Just what the guys needed - early hours spent rounding up cattle. Ever feel like not one more thing could go wrong??? But we were so thankful that we had no major machinery breakdowns.


Addyson probably enjoyed spending time with cousins at the field and picnic suppers as much as anything. Here she is acting like a big girl (see her arms crossed??) with cousin Kylee while I helped make bierocks for supper. Most nights I got off really easy and just brought dessert and drinks for everyone and got to enjoy a whole supper!


Snuggly twin time in the combine cab - I had to snap a picture because this was very rare. It was much more often yelling - don't touch me!!!


Papa Vogt and Braden - LOVED being at the elevator.


Dumping the trucks and "cleaning" up the wheat was pretty exciting for our neat and clean little boy. I think that would be the job he would pick on the harvest crew! He liked the scale house and taking the samples and testing them too.


Addyson was dropping the wheat in kernels at a time while Braden shoved it in with his hands.


Watching the wheat go down the pit and disappear.

The last day of harvest Braden noticed the field at our house that hadn't been cut yet. And I told him they would get to it that day and then daddy would be done harvesting. And Braden said, "Then we can stay home???".  He loves farming and being with daddy but he was so tired of me dragging him along everywhere. He was just ready to do his own harvesting at home with the play tractors and combines all to himself. Me too, Braden. We were all thankful to have the weekend to basically stay home and rest. So grateful for a successful, completed harvest. And for new mercies every day.

"Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."
Lamentations 3:22-23