Facebook Updates

I find myself putting the kids's funny little comments or our day to day happenings on Facebook instead of taking the time to put them on our blog.  So, I decided to scan my FB wall and pick out the updates I think the kids will find fun (or FuNnY!?) when they look through my blog books some day. 

Because, let's face it...they may not accept my future friend requests!

January 2012:

*Drue's new past time: Looking up Quarterbacks and deciding if they're cute or not. So far, on the cute list: Tebow, Brees, Sanchez and Rodgers. Not so cute: Roethlisberger, the Mannings and a few I can't remember...Momma's enjoying this little game, too. ;)

*Seriously? I'm married to a 37 year old man?! He's so lucky to have such a young wife! oh, wait....hmm. Well, Happy Birthday anyway, Ryan Dean!

　

February:

*DD had a blonde moment this morning:
Me: "we're going to run to the bank so Dig can change his coins into dollars."
DD: "howww do they *do* that?!"
Dig: "it's not a magic potion, DD!"

*I'm starting to feel like my Grandma with a cold...I keep finding Kleenexes I've hidden in my undergarments! =)

March:

*Am I the only mom with elementary aged kids that wishes I had automatic flush toilets?! The kids are so used to the school's that they 'forget' when they're home. =)

*In the middle of the night I hear my sleeping son say, "Mom, I punch better when it's nice out."

*(This is a message from Drue's former dance teacher) "I wanted to tell you this..it's so cute watching Drue and her friends grow up. When we used to butterfly away (a stretch) they'd always go to the park or Disneyland...now she's informed my that she's flying to her boyfriend Tim Tebow's house!! :)"

*Lent = 2 packed lunches every Friday until Easter.

*Mimi to Lane,
"would you like a mushroom?"
"I don't like mushrooms...or toads!"
haaahaa!

April:

*Lane went outside to "shoot hoops for a little bit." Not 5 minutes later he ran in the door saying, "oh man! I got scared! I heard crows and thought they were the wicked witch's monkeys!!" I guess that was enough BB for the day!

*Little Man didn't have school today because of Kindergarten Round-up...what did he do? Went to the farm, played basketball, Kum & Go for a slushie, checked out books from the library, lunch at Nanny's, bike ride around the neighborhood, stop at Gma Mary's, picked up his room & living room without being asked and to top it off...picked up his SISTER'S room while listening to the ipod...obviously, without being asked! Such a special kid. ♥ him!

*"I'm tired, Mom."
"Yes, well, that's because you woke up at 5 yesterday morning throwing up and stayed up all day and most of the night."
"Wow. I must be nocturnal or something."
Yeah, but Momma's not...hopefully, this rain will make for good napping.



June:

*First conversation of the morning.
Dig: "Mom! I can't *wait* for my 15th birthday!!"
Me: "Why is that, Bubs?"
Dig: "Cause I think that's when I have my bar mitzvah and get a boat load of presents."
?????

*watch out kids! My momma got me my very own sewing machine...it's homemade clothes from now on! bahha! Not quite, but I'm feeling kinda crafty!

*Today: farm chores, library, basketball camp, dentist, ran 4L errands, karate and walk the bottle calf. So much for a lazy summer.

*First thing this morning, Little Man calls me in to the bathroom, "hey mom! Do you know at Subway it's avocado season!? You'll have to go in there." My addiction to avocados and guacamole must be pretty obvious!

*Our plan to bring Grandma Great homemade ice cream with Delia & Elliot, brought us a special surprise. Grandma Luiken's wedding dress was being modeled, and Grandpa Ernie's suit.

*June 29: *So* looking forward to a weekend full of ... nothing! First weekend of the summer with no plans. Just resting up for a crazy fun wedding week!

July

*July 3: caramel apple pie in the oven, blueberry dessert chilling, kids with Nanny & Pa picking Uncle Steve & Aunt Lisa up from the airport...let party week begin!

*My baby brother gets married tomorrow....and I only cried for about 4 minutes during rehearsal. Those are both pretty big deals. =)

*DD's at volleyball camp and Dig is golfing with Uncle Steve and Aunt Lisa. Such sporty children, taking after their momma... Bahahaa!

*July 17: True story: I've only fixed *ONE* meal at our house since July 2nd! The week of the wedding we ate every meal at Mom & Dad's and all this week we've eaten at the fair. Hope I remember how to cook!

*On the drive home from Karate, we were admiring the beautiful sunset, the corn, trees, a deer, all sorts of things. My baby boy states, "you know mom, everything we see is because of God."

*another one from 6 year-old, Mr. Smooth. I'm on the couch with a sore throat, I run my fingers through his hair, he says to me, "You are so cute. Now I know why Dad married you." sigh.

*The time has finally come! Miss DD is the proud owner of her very own HORSE! She is continuing her lessons, but now she can say she's taking lessons on HER horse. Another plus, the horse came without a name. What 8 year-old girl doesn't want to name her horse?!

August:

*Not to be out done….Dig asked,  "how much was DD’s horse? Then... can I at least have a fish tank?!" He got 6 fish and we’ve had 3 fish funerals.

*pretty sure I could hypnotize my daughterer by cleaning her ears. Her eyes roll back and she practically falls asleep!

*The Olympics have consumed the Luiken home this past week!

*The kids just left with their dad to "find something for supper."
This could be very interesting.

　
*Lane just announced,
"Mom. I just baptized the cat...with real water."

*Was feeling a little mommy guilt after having to get after Dig for yelling and being crazy, hugged him and said, "you need to listen the first time buddy.". Dig replied, "or I can just say,"you look cute, mommy.". Can you say PLAYER?!

*"I'm so lucky to be a boy. I can pee outside, take my shirt off and keep my last name forever. Being a boy is sa-weet!" - Dig Luiken

*Me: "ok, people! What would you like for lunch?"
DD: "Bacon!"
She IS my daughter!

*9 Days of Summer Break left. I asked the kids what they wanted to do in those days. "Stay home!" Sounds good to me!

*"Mom, I love how you grew. You grew out...not up."
-Guess who.

*4th generation's first trip to the Tama sale barn. I'm sure their Great Grandpa Balvanz is smiling...

　
*Of course, with only 4 days of break left, my daughter takes a particular interest (and liking!) to helping do laundry and dishes. And she and her brother cleaned their bathroom all by themselves - without asking. Who are these children?!

*Got talking about bedrooms and Drue states, "I want my next bedroom to be smaller, that way it will be easier to keep clean." Lane pipes in, "I want my next bedroom to have a t.v. and a fridge! Then, I'll invite Dad in to have a beer and play the Wii!"

　
*They're growing up! Strangely, both kids *wanted* to go to bed early tonight. I never mentioned a bedtime, and both kids were asleep by 8:30. Can't believe it's off to 1st and 3rd grades tomorrow!

*First day of 1st & 3rd Grade...off without a hitch (or a tear!) yay!

*This morning, D & Dig made a special request: pumpkin pie as an after school snack. Only *MY* kids would request a pie!

*Yesterday without kids = "oh, boy! Let's see what I can get done!"
Today without kids = It's too quiet. Missing them like crazy  b.o.r.e.d.
 

There you have it.  The past 8 months in Facebook updates.  I feel better now.
　

　

　

Olympic Fever

We have been glued to the t.v. this past week.  DD & Dig sit in awe watching the Olympics.  I realized the last time the summer games were on, Dig was just 2 years-old and DD was only 4.  So it's pretty much the first time they've been interested and boy, do they love it!  We watch it all.  Swimming, gymnastics, water polo, equestrian, badminton... you name it, we watch it.  And, when the kids aren't watching the Olympics...they're playing Olympics. 

This gold-medalist even went out and picked her own flowers before her brother sang The Star Spangled Banner.

Phew!

It's already almost over, but it's kind of just beginnng for us.  Phew!

Summer has been kind of crazy this year.  It's the first year as a mom that I feel summer has gone too quickly.  I want my kids to feel like they've had a nice long, relaxing and fun summer, like I used to.  This summer, we've been  with busy coaching Dig's t-ball, daily farm chores, Karate, hosting KK's bridal shower, teaching Vacation Bible School, basketball camp, weekly Bible Study, Shawn's wedding week celebrations, a nice long visit from Uncle Steve & Aunt Lisa, training DD's fair calf, volleyball camp, the summer library program, hot long days (and nights!) at the Hardin County Fair, too many trips to Waterloo/CF, a few sewing projects for KK and our unborn nephew-Baby Jackson in Kansas City, fitting in some pool days, dentist appointments, dr. appointments, parades, not to mention Ry's been putting in oodles of hours while his business continues to grow... let's see what else?  It doesn't look like much in print, but it's been busy...and fun! But, we're all ready for everything to slow down for a bit before school starts up. 

And, starting next week, our calendar finally looks like things are about to just that.  As I look at the family calendar, there are only a few things written on it for the next 5 and a half weeks before school starts...one of which is Tim Tebow's birthday...written by a certain little 8 year-old.  {August 14, just incase you're wondering.}   =)


So, until I can muster up enough energy to post about some of those summer events, here's a picture of the 4 dirty, sweaty, hot, and tired Luikens at the fair...make that 5...can't forget about Duncan the bull calf!  (Ironically, he was the only clean one in the bunch!)

I'm the Farmer's Daughter

Well, now that planting season is in the books...I suppose it's high-time I post about last year's HARVEST!  I'm embarrassed that I've waited this long, but the truth is, it's too emotional for me. 

You heard me. 

Yes, I managed to make harvesting corn emotional.  It really wasn't the harvest that made me emotional.  It was the time I got to spend with my dad and brother.  Let's be honest here...I'm not exactly "farm-help" material.  I didn't know what I was doing, but they let me be out in the fields with them.  I probably cost them more time and fuel money than I was worth, but they let me come back more than once!

Dad knew I wanted to help and called one day saying it would help them out if I could drive the wagon up to the combine so Shawn could stay where he was without driving to the wagon everytime the combine filled up.  Then I would drive the wagon to the semi, unload and meet Shawn before he was full so he wouldn't have as much down time.  Did you get that?

Let's take a moment to emphasize the fact that I don't know a lot of farm terminology.  Corn, combine, semi, tractor, wagon...those I got...Kind of pathetic for a girl who has been around it for 27 years.  So, bear with.  It's not really about the farm anyway. 

My first day out was cold.  I wore some old coveralls and prepared for my lesson in tractor-driving.  It had been awhile, but I had before.  Way back when parents used to make their kids walk beans, I drove an old AC while Dad sat on the (insert correct word here, maybe bean bar?) and sprayed beans.  I also am very good at driving the tractor forward...backward...forward...backward when Dad and Steve and Shawn or Ryan unload square bales of hay into the barn.  Those were good tanning days for me!  =)

Back to harvest.  Dad gave me a quick lesson (probably too quick! He trusted me a little too much!) in driving and which lever to pull or push to make the PTO run and the auger (again-? arm? hmm.  I should have taken notes) so the corn would dump into the wagon.  (I think I owe the boys a new clutch in the tractor because I know I smelled smoke by the time the sun set!)  The plan was that I'd drive up to Shawn when he was starting to get full and he'd transfer the corn from the combine to my wagon, then I'd take the corn and transfer it to the semi, drive back and do this over and over and over.

Not ten-minutes after I'd been set free in the tractor alone...Shawn, out of no where, decided we should try "dumping on the go."  It sounds about as good as I was at it!  For you non-farmer people, it's when the combine driver doesn't stop, he just keeps on picking corn while the poor wagon driver (moi!) tries to keep pace AND appropriate distance from the combine so the corn is continually dumping in to the wagon instead of the combine's bin.  I was so not qualified for that!  But, I did it!  I even got comfortable driving the wagons up to the semi without the horrible fear of ripping the auger off the wagon or tearing the top of the semi trailer to shreds.  Never happened.  I don't think I caused any costly damages...unless you count that time I over-estimated how much corn would fit in that semi-trailer and the beautiful yellow, high-dollar grain started pouring over before I could pull (or push!?) the lever to stop it! Dad claims it was less than a 5 gallon bucket full, but to this little girl it looked like a lot. 

My first field was right across from the, now demolished, farm place I grew up on.  My kids now call it, "The Heifers" because...well, that's where Dad and Shawn winter the heifers, of course.

I'll always remember how Dad would stop and come talk to me, reassure me.  Then he'd start to walk away and look back and say, "you know how proud I am of you?"  or "you know how much I love you?"  We talk like that freely and often, but there was just something about him saying it out there that meant something different.  I knew I wasn't really that much help, but I also knew Dad was glad I was out there.  Just out there.

There were several times I would just look out the window and thank God that I was able to be out in the middle of that lonely field with those two boys. I can't count the number of times I had tears in my eyes...and believe it or not...only one of those times was because I was nervous (or thought I could be in trouble!)  But, there were also times I'd just giggle like a little girl!  Kind of like the first time I rode Steve's mini-dirt bike when we lived at the farm.  Just a nervous, "oh my gosh, am I really doing this?!" kind of giggle and I couldn't stop!

Dad's said before that sometimes he feels closest to God out in the field and I totally 'got-it' those days.  I'd meet them out as soon as it was dry enough to start, then pick kids up from school and hurry back out to the tractor.  The kids had so much fun riding with Unlce Shawn in the combine or with Pa in the semi to the elevator.  It was weird, days felt so short...(feeling like we didn't get much done)...and so long, ....(when will this field be done!) all at the same time. There wasn't anything I'd rather do and next year...I am scheduling my substitute teaching calendar around harvest!

I can't wait to get back out there
this Fall, if they'll have me. 

Better go ahead and pre-schedule that
next clutch repair, Dad...

cuz' the Farmer's Daughter is hooked!

D & Dig with Pa before heading out to the fields.

I came bearing gifts...Balvanz family faves: 
Fire Hot Jolly Ranchers and Wint-O-Green Lifesavers!

Who's taking these pictures, you ask?
Dad had orders from Mom, of course!

That tractor smells so good to me.

Believe it or not, my hands are the perfect size for
fixing whatever it was I was fixing here.  =)
I better watch out how good I get at this farming stuff
or soon I'll be hired as the resident mechanic!

Uncle Shawn is also on the Harvest Entertainment Committee. 
Per his favorite nephew's request, 
any free moment he had he was supposed to be playing football.
He's kind of a popluar guy around here.

Is that not the cutest picture!? Dad next to his Mack.

Oops. Not a very good picture, but Uncle Shawn hard at work.

My view.
See that knob on the steering wheel? 
My Grandpa Balvanz put that on years ago to assist his
turning in the very same tractor.

I didn't need to use it.

But every once and a while I'd grab on to it anyway and say,
"Can you believe they let me drive this thing, Grandpa!?"
I think he would have thought it was pretty neat that I was helping,
but I also know he would have been a nervous nelly the entire time.
Wonder where we get it!? =)

Hey, it's not a beauty contest! Don't judge!

The life of a farmer is not easy.
But when you're called to be a steward of His Land,
life is good because God is Good.

Mine...All Mine!

Evidently, Ryan thinks I've been hogging the cheese puffs, because this is what I found sitting on the counter Saturday morning.

I did put a pretty good dent in them...but I had help! 

2 Kids, 2 Fish

This weekend the state of Iowa offered free fishing and we took advantage of it. We say it all the time, "why don't we go fishing more!?"  We all enjoy it and we are so fortunate to live less than a mile from the beautiful Pine Lake State Park. 


Ryan's been talking about taking the kids fishing for a few weeks now and today was the day!  We went to church, Pizza Ranch then to Pamida for worms.  We parked at the boat ramp and walked down the hill to the spillway.


Within moments of arriving, we saw about 40 goslings and their parents walk/fall down the spillway.  The little geese were still full of fluffy down.  They just hung out near us eating and eventually walked up the hill.  Lane was the first to catch something.  It was quite the afternoon for Dig.  He's petrified of worms...they were on the end of his pole.  He's scared to death of snakes...there was one swimming on top of the water right behind him.  He was a trooper, just was always keeping his eyes out for anything creepy/crawly.  He even touched the little Blue Gill he caught and has been saying, "we need to go fishin' more often so we get really good at it!" 

DD loves worms, loves dirt, and had a great time fishing.  She informed us we weren't leaving until she caught something.  Luckily, a few minutes after her brother caught his, Drue also caught a little Blue Gill.  Phew.  That's all Ryan and I hoped for...for them each to catch ONE! 

It was such a relaxing way to spend the afternoon. I see a fishing license and a lot more fishing in our future!

To Do:

Our kids have a thing for charts.  You know the saying, "build it and they will come" ...well my saying goes, "make a chart...and the kids will do it."  No kidding.  Noticing kids aren't brushing their teeth like they should? Make a chart.  Want them to read more books?  Make a chart.  Count down to holidays?  Make a chart.  There's just something about crossing off or filling in boxes of a chart that gets them to do what they are supposed to do. 

I thought summer break would be a good excuse to make another chart.  D & Dig are usually very good about helping when I ask, but I don't want to have to ask.  It's nothing fancy, something the three of us made together in about 5 minutes...but so far...it's working like a charm.  Ok, we've only been home on summer break for two days, but we have to start somewhere.

Drue even came into the kitchen the first morning and said,
 "Mom, I think this summer is going to be better."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, last summer, I didn't want to help pick up or anything.  This year, I kinda do."

She's always honest!

We Luikens want summer to be F.U.N. but my inner teacher manages to come out when the kiddos are home, and they happily oblige. 

So, as you'll see, on our kitchen pantry door, we have the chore chart, a list of choices, and some important facts ( our address, phone # and his birthdate) I made when school started that I knew Lane would have to know for Kindergarten. The chart's just a cookie sheet, fun duct tape and chores that I had mom laminate and I stuck on a magnet roll.  I think I'll have my dad cut me a piece of metal so it's a little more decorative...that is, IF the kids continue to use it.  =)

The chores are *very* complicated.  Very strenuous. 
You know...things like, brush your teeth - it's on there twice...because you need to brush  your teeth twice a day.
Other items on the chart won't necessarily get done each and every day, they include---
*Bedroom (check if it needs picked up)
*My Things from the Living Room (because we have a huge toyroom and things still end up in the living room)
*Feed Cash (DD) and Feed Penny (Dig)
*Fun Exercise (can be dancing to the ipod, any sport, play outside, swimming, taking a walk, going to Karate, Volleyball camp, riding bikes, you get the idea, just get up and get movin'!)
*Put clothes in Drawers (after Mom folds them, of course, and Mom will hang clothes up)
*Farm Chores (the sheep, chickens and bottle calf need fed twice a day!)
*School Activity (there are many fun things on the list or make up a new one!)
*Act of Kindness (Do something nice for someone without being asked)

The first day, the kids were excited to find something that counted as an Act of Kindess.  I had them round up any shoes they could no longer wear so a friend of ours can take them on a mission trip to Honduras, where shoes are as treasured as gold.  D & Dig were so proud, they found 25 pairs of shoes in garage sale boxes and closets that children of Honduras can wear! Today's acts weren't quite as meaningful, but kind all the same.  DD offered to sweep up cat food that had spilled and Dig brought dishes in from the living room without being asked. 

The School Activity includes all sorts of things...we got new workbooks for the kids for the grade they'll be in in the fall and both have busily worked on completing several pages already.  Anything goes for a school activity...things like workbook pages, playing games on the school website, games on the itouch, journaling, reading to yourself or to someone, listening to a book on the computer or Leapfrog or a CD, doing math flashcards, something crafty, going to the library story time, playing school or make something up!  I'm not teasing myself.  These things won't get done everyday, but I want to have things to reference when I hear, "I'm bored!" or "What can I do?" 

One thing I've noticed is that the t.v. hasn't been on AT.ALL. befrore noon! The kids don't turn it on first thing when they wake up, instead, they run to the chart and start finding things to do.  DD noticed, too. "Mom! I haven't watched a show in two days!"  We do have it on once Ry is home...and of course, I couldn't miss The Hatfields & McCoys but it's waaay less than usual. Which is a step in the right direction.  Nothing's wrong with a little t.v. but now we're too busy having fun to care if it's on or not!

So far, the kids are eager to move things from the "To Do" to the "DONE!" side of their charts, and they've been so well behaved and friendly to eachother.  We'll see how long this works!