Cy-Hawks

These two always have so much fun when they are together!  Lane took both his ISU and Iowa jerseys to Mimi & RahRah's this weekend so he could share with Cade and they could have their very own Cy-Hawk game.  After a Mr.Freeze break, they returned outside for the rest of their game because, Cade said..."Lane was making too many touchdowns!"  Sounds like the Cyclones might have won a game Saturday, after all! 

These two, even dispite the age difference, can play all afternoon together!  They find Aunt Trudi & Aunt Traci's clothes from when they were little and dress up.  Here they are being farm girls on their horses!

Favorite Time of Year!

Although windy, today's weather is my favorite.  Cool enough to wear 'cozy' pants as we call them in our house.  I have windows opened to accentuate the crispness in air because we're having chili for supper, whether Ryan thinks it's too early in the year or not!  It's chilly in here!

The kids and I were talking about how this is my favorite time of year.  How I don't think their dad wants to hear it, but I even love winter.  I'd much rather be cold than too hot.  You can always put more clothes on...you can only get so naked.  We named off things we love about this time of year...cozy pants, fuzzy socks, warm soups, football games, the Hawkeyes, walks at Pine Lake, pumpkins, we could have gone on and on...

 Today, after school, Drue ran to her room and put cozy pants on and her favorite pair of fuzzy socks.  While watching her brother play the Wii she pulled off a sock.  I noticed how FULL of colorful fuzz her toes were already, then I heard her say, "Ah! This IS my favorite time of year!  I LOVE to pick my toes!"

That girl has loved to pick toes since she's had toes! 
She still sits on the bathroom floor naked every night before her bath to check for gunk between the piggies.  The more the better...

"I Don't Get This?!"

On our ride home from school this afternoon, I asked Lane who he played with. 

"Well.  Not Hayley or Owen.  I played with Abby...and I don't get this!-----

She said, she LOVES me!"

Oh boy!  I have to admit, this isn't surprising... Drue had a crush on Abby's brother when they were in preschool together!

Just as long as he remembers the only girl he can kiss is his Momma!

Wordless Wednesday

Penny Cutie Luiken

Do you know Penny Cutie Luiken? She is our kitty...well, actually she's a cat. A fat cat.  She was born last May.  She was born in an old oil barrel at my Dad's farm shop.  That Spring we frequented the shop often to check on the kids' bottle calves.  Pa showed the kids the new batch of kitties and Dig fell in love.  They were too tiny for me to even pick up...I have an issue with baby-baby animals, especially kitties...eew.  Dig would ask to go see the kitties and always held the same one.  I asked him why he liked the little tabby the best and he would say, "because she has a chubby face...and she's so cute."  He named her Cutie. 

Penny Cutie's birthplace...

She's in there somewhere, with her siblings...

That same Spring DD was dead set on getting a turtle.  She wanted one bad.  We looked for one, went shopping for one then saw how much the 'safe' turtles were and decided that we really didn't need a turtle.  So...her daddy said they could pick out a new kitty from the farm and bring home as a compromise. 

We headed right to Pamida for the supplies since it had been a couple years that we had an indoor kitty.  Ryan and I had Thomas, well actually, he was mine, Ryan got him as an added 'bonus' when he married me!  ha!  Actually, Tom is a very good cat.  He is huge and he meows loud...I love that.  The only thing is that when we moved he freaked out and decided he'd rather live in the pasture behind my parents' house.  He sits around outside all day and we see him often.  He just didn't like our new house, evidentally.  Anyhoo...after Pamida, we ran to the farm, toy pet carrier in hand and found Cutie. 

June 1, 2009 "Daddy said we could get a kitty!"

You have no idea what you are in for, but Pa said,

"if she plays her cards right she'll have quite the life for a farm cat!"

She hid under the tv armoir for the entire first day we had her.  She has quite the attitude, as I would if I had 2 kids chasing me, trying to dress me up, stick me in boxes and push me in little grocery carts. Today, she grabs your leg when you walk by and bites if you try to pet her and she's not in the mood. She chases...and I mean chases the kids down the hall.  They run up on the couch for safety.  She's our Tiger.  Dig says she's evil. 

Hiding out

Dig stuck her in the little dollhouse...

and in his cowboy boot box...

She was (and still is) swaddled like a baby...

and squished by two little people who love her very much!

Penny (we added Penny to go with Cash our dog...but not really because he's named after Johnny Cash...not money...ridiculous, I know) usually stays hidden during the day, until of course, someone comes over.  She will usually stay where she can see us, but we can't touch her.

Well, Ms. Thing has a new hangout.  My grandpa Larson built this doll house for me.  He built all 3 grandaughters one.  I was actually a little old, past the Barbie stage when I received mine.  But, thankfully, mom and dad kept it for me.  We brought it home a couple of weeks ago and us girls have already spent many evenings redesigning rooms and buying carpet samples from the local decorating store.  Penny has claimed the sun deck. 

See her up there?

Keep your distance!

If you can't find her...look there. But don't touch...the Princess doesn't like to be disturbed.

MiMi's Popcorn

Last Sunday the kids and I ran into Ryan's parents' house while Ryan was checking his calves there.  I smelled popcorn as I walked in and knew we interrupted supper.  Ryan's family grew up having popcorn for supper on most Sunday nights.  My dad grew up the same way.  I remember Grandma Mary serving popcorn, apples and homemade caramels on Sunday nights.  We've 'sort of 'adopted that tradition...we call it "Sunday Funday." This means the kids can eat pretty much anything they want for supper, maybe popcorn and apples or cheese/crackers and summer sausage.  Sometimes it's jalapeno poppers, pizza rolls and potato skins. Almost anything goes!  I also use Sunday Funday to clean out any leftovers in the fridge from the week...if they sound good to anyone, which, usually the 'snacky' stuff wins out. 

One Sunday night, Ryan said, "hey,when I was a kid mom used to put food coloring on the popcorn. Let's do that tonight."  You know by now that Dig loves any and everything colorful. It would be a great surprise.  So, that's what we did.  Popped the popcorn and sprinkled green food coloring over the buttery, salty goodness.  It was pretty cool, but I didn't think the color spread like it was supposed to. 

Linda's popcorn last Sunday night was also green...but the color covered the popcorn like a popcorn ball.  I knew right there that is what Ryan was talking about and we were obviously missing something!  I had her write down the recipe so we could enjoy some at home, too.  When Ryan walked in from his chores he said, "See!  I told you mom made colored popcorn!"  I showed him there was a little more than just food coloring involved and we had a good giggle.  "Well, to a little boy you could see how I thought it was just food coloring." ...except for the sweet, sticky sugar taste, I guess.  =)

Tonight, after supper, the kids and I made our very first batch of "MiMi's Popcorn!"  Dig chose BLUE!  It was so, so, so, YUMMY!  It will be so fun in snack mixes & May Baskets!!

You should try it!

I used a half cup of unpopped corn in our air-popper...
3 T.  Water

1/2 C. Sugar

1/2 C. Powdered Sugar

1 1/2 T. Butter

Boil- then add food coloring, stir & ENJOY!

First Day of School

Can't believe it, but we have TWO kids in SCHOOL!

Drue had a wonderful start to the year, especially compared to last year.  There were no tears, no whining...just smiles and excitement.  So much easier on Momma that way!  She is starting First-Grade.  Her teacher, Mrs. Bronzynski is especially known for her spectacular gift in teaching kids to love reading.  Drue was so excited to see all the neat things in her classroom.  She had a wonderful day, playing with friends she hadn't seen through the summer and getting reaquainted with the school.  We are so very proud of her and all she has already learned in school and can't wait to see her blossom even more!

Lane Ryan has been waiting for this day for, what seemed to him...EVER!  He is in the 4 year-old program at Good Shepherd Preschool.  His birthday is the actual cutoff date, so he will be 5 in a few weeks.  He was so excited for craft time and playing with all the neat toys and blocks.  His teacher, Miss Karen, is familiar with his love of all things colorful, organization and crafts so I'm sure she will make sure he has a wonderfully fun year!  There are only 4 other boys in his class... but that's no big deal to him, he's used to his big sister bossing him around!  ha!  Lane was the Line Leader today and got to ring the bell to announce that it's time for everyone to take a seat on the rug. He loved playing outside and playing with his friend Hailey, who he knows from Sunday School.  He could hardly wait to show me that he received his very own book order sheets...he's big time now!  We are so proud of Dig and all the things he has been determined to learn at home and all the things he has soaked up from his sister.  We are so anxious to see what this year brings for our Little Man!