The Impossible Dream

So as of yesterday Kurt and I own a farm. A whole 78 acres. We even created an LLC for this cute little farm called "Romans' Acres." {Personally I was voting for "Kurt's Dirt."} The pivot has been shipped and planting shortly to follow that. Who would have ever thought I would own a farm? It makes me want to race Austin through the acres, leave a dusty trail on a 4 wheeler, gather eggs from the coop and sigh {contently} at the quiet peacefulness of our land.

My Ghetto Fabulous Project

So the past few weeks I have been working on a project that I've wanted to do for quite awhile. I rigged up my own ghetto {fabulous} photography studio.

Last year the girl that took my preschool pictures had a set up that got me started thinking about the project. Many articles, youtube videos and amazon searches later I came up with this



It revolves around this main piece {that I made six of.} A pipe cemented into a bucket.


Most people use wood but I'm married to a man with a lot of pipe. And luckily they are currently pouring a lot of pivot pads so the cement was easy to come by also. Braxton and Spence helped me with that part, they were very enthusiastic helpers.

I'm still working out a lot of lighting/shadow issues but I have plenty of subjects to practice on. ;) Its been fun and pretty fast to set up. Here are a few pics from my GFStudio...

Spencer age 5


Rooster age 3


Emma Lynn age 6.5


Easter pics of my nieces & nephews

Lorna & Ethan


Braxton & Brooke

Nesting

This is what I did today.



Yes, I am nesting at 30 weeks.

I realize it may be a bit premature BUT it will take me that long to get ready since I'm always running around taking care of kids. Plus with nesting comes much cleaning. I can't think of anyone who would discourage that!

Great 2 B Eight!

Sunday, April 17th Austin celebrated his 8th Birthday. I thought a Sunday birthday was perfect since our focus is on his baptism on the 30th.


My itty bitty preemie ~ April 17, 2003


First Birthday {2004}


Second Birthday {2005}


Third Birthday {2006}


Fourth Birthday {2007}


Fifth Birthday {2008}


Sixth Birthday {2009}


Seventh Birthday {2010}


Eighth Birthday {2011}

He had a new suit {pin strip btw} and shoes to wear to church. Plus he opened his Baptism Memories Scrapbook. Aunt Karen made cookies the night before to take to his Primary class while I was busy decorating {aunt Karen rocks!}



He also had his baptism interview with the Bishop. {Later the Bishop told Kurt that he was very quiet and nervous. But during FHE Austin told us he felt the spirit during his interview.}

We had invited family over for a Great 2 B Eight dinner at 4pm. We scheduled it early because there was a Stake High Priest meeting that night at 6. That way Bill and Cindy could come and eat before the meeting. As Kurt was helping me get ready he asked if we would have enough time before the meeting. I looked at him with a dumbfounded look {What was he talking about?? I'm sure his parents could get there in time.} "Honey, I'm a high priest. We have to go to that meeting also." LOL {for like 10 minutes.} I seriously didn't clue in that it included us too.

So plans had to change a little bit. Austin had asked 4 people to share about their baptisms before we ate dinner but we skipped it and the games to get dinner on the way. We served cake and ice cream and Kurt and I seriously walked out the door with a house full of guests. {Again my amazing sister ROCKS! Thank you!!!}

Austin picked the dinner menu of all his favorites: Nachos and home made Mac n' Cheese. We added steak, appetizers and salads to the mix. It was tasty and Austin was happy. For his cake Austin designed a LEGO baptismal font to put on top of his white cake.





He received his Cub Scout uniform and handbook. He attends his first Den Meeting on Wednesday (the 20th.) Not to mention the Pine Wood Derby is next Thursday (car is already cut and he is on the sanding process) and we signed him up for Cub Scout Day Camp in June this morning. Nothing like jumping in with 2 feet!



Mom and Dad gave him a keyboard {complete with headphones for mom! :D} He has had a lot of fun exploring, experimenting and creating.



We have been talking, teaching and preparing for this birthday. I was grateful that all he wanted for his 8th birthday was to get baptized. As we made invitations for his birthday dinner and baptism I told him to write, "I'm excited to be eight" at the top. He didn't like it so I asked him to write what he wanted to say. He wrote, "I'm grateful to be eight." I was touched by his word choice.



Austin you are a great son. We have enjoyed the past eight years with you. Thank you for letting us grow with you, for bringing us joy and understanding of Heavenly Father's great plan. I am grateful for the knowledge you have of the gospel, your desire to be baptized and your sweet testimony.

Te amo un milion ochos!

Bangs

Wednesday night after Ruth's shower I noticed something different about her hair.

SHE HAD BANGS.

And I didn't cut them for her.

What a little naughty potty.

But the thing is - I really like them. She did a good job, I didn't even have to trim them up. Maybe she has found her calling early in life.


Too bad I can't tell her since it was a naughty thing to do.

HIT and RUN

Soccer practice got a little interesting and long on Wednesday.

Kurt needed the burban to haul kids to Nyssa for Mutual.

So we met at the Vale Elementary parking lot to exchange vehicles.

It was yet another cold day so the kids and I ate snacks in the pick-up while Austin practiced.

And another soccer standard {for this year at least} practice was going L..O..N..G and we really needed to get home. So I got out of the pick-up to get Austin off the field so we could go home. Just as I reached him I heard a LOUD crunch. I whipped around to see a Black suburban backing away from Kurt's pick-up now decorated with a LARGE dent while the suburban continued to drive away.

I was shocked. And immediately started to run as fast as Lucy would allow me.

The suburban stopped at the gate about the time I reached them and yelled,

"WERE YOU SERIOUSLY NOT GOING TO STOP???!!!"

This was my first experience {ever} with a wreck so I didn't really even know what to do. We exchanged info and just as we were finished a cop pulled up. A friend who witnessed the whole thing called the police. He continued to help me by taking all my kids + the extra I was suppose to take home too. That was a huge help and I felt very indebted to him. Not the best time to not be able to get a hold of Kurt.



Is it horrible of me to say that I'm so glad it wasn't my suburban that got hit?

Soccer = Terrible Weather

Spring is here and for our house it also means another soccer season. I really like Ontario Parks & Rec's soccer program. It is great exercise and training for the kids and a huge test of patience for the parents. Only because soccer means the WORST spring weather ever. Every year it never fails. No matter how beautiful the weather was yesterday it will be miserable, cold and windy on every soccer practice and game. Not complaining cause we are still supporting but like I said, a test of patience. :)

Austin has practice twice a week and both boys had their first games on Saturday, April 2nd. It was raining and cold and windy for Spencer's game. Maybe the worst soccer weather to date. But somehow we endured.



Great patience comes in trying to keep the non-players warm.



Spencer played goalie during their "game." He had so many layers on it was comical. The marshmallow boy.



Austin was not very aggressive but got more into it as the game went on.





And they won! The final score was 4-1. His team didn't win once last year so it was a great way to start a new season for us.