I don't normally post pics of my family but

I have a niece!!

She is adorable. 

And here is a cute pic I took of Cooper, Junior, and Sophia all piled in the car to go to the hospital.  I wasn't sure I could get them all in there!



Ever get a tune stuck in your head?

All day today I have been a madwoman with tomatoes!  The burner that the canner is sitting on has been on since 8am...it is 4pm now.  I am so tired.  But all day I have been simging humming this tune:

It is just one of those great songs.

Will post later on the canning products...

Looky Looky looky!!

That right there is 8 five gallon buckets full...and at $3 a bucket equaling $24 for all of those!! You can't beat that!  They will need to be worked up ASAP and I am going to start prepping tonight.  I am so excited!  I love the Amish and all the hard work they do.

and a random picture of my 1 and only Silkie hen...she is camera shy so I usually don't get pics of her:



So I changed the layout again. lol

There were still things I didn't like about the old layout.  I think I will keep this one for awhile.

The weekend was a pretty good one.  We had a tractor pull at Fair Grove on Saturday and even though I felt my job was taken over- it really irriatated me. I got over it and made a new friend.  One of our pullers, Josh is the same age as I and his fiancee and I talked all night long.  Her name is Kim and she is 20.  I had talked to her before, but not for very long.  She and I have so much in common it is crazy.  It was great to feel like a normal human being again.  Meaning I didn't have the kids with me and I could actually talk about regular things.  It was nice.

Sunday the kids and I went to church. (Chris did not go.) They had recieved my letter from Half Way so the church gave me the right hand of church fellowship.  I wish Chris would have come.  He knew I wanted him there, but he chose not to.  Bro Zane preached a great sermon and we had an altar/testimony service after the sermon.  So we didn't get out of church until after 1pm.  It was very uplifting though. 

When we got home we found Chris sleeping... I didn't have anything thawed out for dinner so we just had chicken nuggets, mac n cheese, and peas.  It wasn't bad.  Chris went back to sleep and the kids took a nap.  I went over to mom and dad's to go swimming.  When the kids and Chris woke up they came over there and Cooper went swimming with me.

After we got out of the pool, I realized that it was 6pm and that I needed to get home and get ready for church.  Chris wouldn't go and so Cooper didn't want to go either. Fine.  Sophia and I went to church and it was a great service.  Zane preached another blessing filled sermon and we had altar service again.  2 are in the altar but I think 1 is confused.  She stood up when we sang Glory Glory Glory Somebody Touched Me, but has never told an experiance.

Wednesday Rock Praire dismissed services to go to Providence since Bro Zane has been called to preach there for Wednesday night services.  I would like to go, but don't know how brave I am.  I will have junior with me on Wednesday since my sister Karen is to be induced on Wednesday.  Yes I will have a neice!  Sarah Ann will be her name- I can't wait to meet her.  Rock Praire is also hosting 5th Sunday this month so we will have services Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  Then we start revival on Monday.  I pray and hope that Chris will go with me.  He always says he HAS to do things on Sunday.  I want to tell him that he doesn't start going to church and worrying about his soul he will always have things to do on Sunday.  When he is burning in Hell he will regret not taking the time to spend it with his family at church.  Life is short, but Heaven and Hell last forever.

We are going to Weaubleau this afternoon.  Chris is taking his 70 John Deere down there to rake hay with.  He is renting 20 acres down there and will probably decide to start on it next week when we are in revival. boo.

Rain! Glorious Rain!

I was out watering and feeding the animals (who always act like they are just starving!) and I felt something wet fall onto my shoulder.  I looked up and not too many clouds in the west or the east.  I looked South, and it was DARK! Could it be? Could there really be a crazy unpredicted storm coming from the south? YES! RAIN! Glorious RAIN!! It poured for quite awhile and cooled down a bit.  The wind blew and the lightening flashed.  I ran out into the yard like a little schoolgirl.  Rain is a good thing!  Our yard was starting to get so cruncy it no longer felt good on my barefeet. 

There nothing that smells better than a summer rain.  I don't know why it smells so good but I wish I could bottle that smell up and smell it all the time.  I could make millions!  People have tried but it never smells the same.  You just can't copy mother nature no matter how much you try.

There is a small chance of rain tomorrow, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday and I hope it rains everyday!

SLOW DOWN

It makes me sad that everyone is in too much of a hurry. Hurry to do what? Work your life away. I am sorry but when I go to the store, it is my time away from home and I like to enjoy it. Even if it is getting groceries. I try not to hurry through life. Sure we all have to make a living, but do you ever take time to just sit back and enjoy. And as I always say- Its the simple things in life that matters. I do actually sit in my rocking chair on the porch. Our pastor refrenced that on Sunday- you know our great grandparents worked HARD- harder than most work today-- especially the farmers- they would get up at dawn do chores, eat breakfast, do more chores, work the fields- take a break for lunch- go right back out and work more. Come in eat Supper and then spend time with the family. They worked hard for their living yet they still had time to sit on the porch in their chairs and watch the kids catch fireflys in the summer evenings. People didn't stay up until midnight and sleep till noon. Sure they may have not had the education that some of us have, but they payed their bills and were happy. Technology has ruined this world it always has. Look at the farmer: first he had a horse and a 1 bottom plow- so he probably only had about 20 acres or less. Then 2 and 4 bottom plows came out- he had to get another horse and more land to pay for the bigger plow. Then tractors came out- he had to get more land to pay for that. Then bigger tractors and bigger farming implements came out and he had to get even more land to pay for them...all along causing more and more work for the farmer and less time for his family. Isn't that the reason we are all so busy? We are working to pay for the things that are better that we want? I think I would be much happier if I could just live off the land and move away from people.

And I know I live off the land more than most people in this world, but I wish it could be more strict.  I do love my computer and watching TV occasionally (Usually Little House on the Praire or The Waltons...)  BUT I think we would all be happier without those technologies.  I sometimes think I could be Amish and was born to the wrong family lol. 

A few years ago- in 2007 we had the ice storm of the century around here- we were out of power for almost 3 weeks.  We survived just fine.  We had our wood stove that we heat with anyway, I cooked on it.  Luckily it was cold enough that our deepfreezer didn't thaw.  We have an old spring fed well in our yard complete with well bucket.  It was tough, but unlike the rest of the community we were prepared.  I always fill everything that will hold water with water before a storm. I can hear my momma telling me to fill the bathtub so we can flush the toilet! (Our bathtub won't hold water for extended periods of time though...!) I had kerosene lamps already- basic nescessity one would think...along with lamp oil, candles, and matches.  We dug out the old dial phones like these:

and called a few people to check in on them.  I ended up cooking for many of our neighbors. You can make chili go really far.  You'd be surprised at how many people don't keep very much food in their pantries.  We actually realistically have enough food for at least a year or more without going to the store.  That doesn't mean it all goes together or would be fresh, but we wouldn't starve.

The hardest thing that winter was taking care of the animals.  Sure we knew how to take care of them, just getting it done without power was the problem.  And the several inches of ice on everything.  Instead of having ponds built we have waterers put in that are hooked up to our wells...when the power is our that creates a problem.  We had kerosene lamps in the well houses trying to keep them thawed out along with kerosene ran generators to keep them going.  If we had ponds we could have just broke the ice (which is dangerous I know) but more logical and cheaper in the long run.  We had to feed hay everyday because it took that long to get everything fed and watered- by the time we were done we had to start over.  Many animals died that winter.

and since it is so hot outside this time of the year I will post some pics from the ice storm.  Maybe they will cool you off some :)



.



Losing Animals left and right!

ARHGDSJHlfkdjh!

Anyone that has animals knows it is always a gamble with predators.  But we do try our best to keep them safe.  This week we have had major losses though.  Our Blue Slate Tom Turkey was killed by a coyote along with Garfield, Bucky, and at least 7 chickens.  Has not been a good week at all.  I know it has to be a coyote because all that is left of the chickens is feathers...and he just kills the cats and leaves them in the yard.  Thankfully my husband found Bucky this morning and discarded him before the kids saw.  I guess it was pretty gruesome.  I am trying to talk my hubby into sitting up most of the night with the gun...




I guess on a happier note though, a couple of my muscovey hens have started laying again, so hopefully I can hatch out some more ducklings!  I have a broody EE still, and I am thinking about saving back some of my other eggs and trying to hatch some.

Such wonderful blessings

Yesterday was such a great day to be in the Lord's House.  Morning services were uplifting as well as evening services.  I cannot explain the thirst I have to hear the Lord's word.  Even though I had been going to church I hadn't been serving the Lord like I should have been.  These past few weeks, I cannot wait to fellowship with God's people. 

There is just something about Brother Zane that I just love.  The way he delivers God's message is unbelievable.  He explains things so well and is great for those that haven't been around church their whole lives.  He relates God's word to everyday things that I understand. 

It is amazing what God can do for you when you lean on Him and trust Him.

I wish I could explain to the whole world what I feel.  Wish I could explain to Chris what I feel.  I will continue to pray for his salvation, or if he needs to do something.  Also for others that I have had wonders about.  Only he and God know what is going on.  No man can tell him he is saved, he cannot save himself.  He must sumbit himself to the Almighty God and become one with Him. 

Even though I just joined Rock Praire I haven't felt like a member of Half Way for a couple of years.  I felt out of place, and unwanted.  But now I have a home church and I really enjoy being there.  I can't wait until revival starts, even though it will be tiresome for the kids.

I need to get lots of snacks and buy lots of crayons for the revival.  2 weeks + of church is hard on the little ones, but it is also good for them.  Love revivals.  It is amazing that I have already been revived just by following his Word. 

as promised a few new pictures of the animals :)

wowza it is hot

Yeah yeah I know its hot everywhere, but right now I just don't really feel right.  I think I spent too much time in the sun this morning. (it is only 11:13am and is already 93 degrees and HUMID!) yuck.  I am still plagued with this awful summer cold.  I was up until 1 am last night coughing until I ended up drinking half of a bottle of tussin. yuck.  I won't go into the gory details, but I am glad the toilet was clean when I had my head on it. ugh.

Last night mom and dad kept the kids so we could go on a date for our anniversary.  We went to Springfield and ate at Golden Corral (wanted to eat at Cheddars but it was a 45 minute wait!) We had to eat somewhere pretty fast to make it in time for the movie.  We went and saw ZooKeeper- which was awesome.  The parking at the theatre was HORRIBLE.  Forgot that Harry Potter had a new movie. What a bunch of morons! ugh I have never understood the thing about Harry Potter.  I haven't ever read nor will I ever read a HP book and have no desire to see a movie. whatever.

So we bought some more chickens yesterday from the strangest lady ever.  She gave us a great deal, but boy oh boy was she strange.  She lived off the side of 54 hwy with a gate across her driveway.  Looked like something out of a scary movie- no trespassing signs, barbed wire, and 4 big rottweilers. scary.  Chris said he was glad I didn't come by myself and that he had a gun!  The gate had a log chain and 2 padlocks.  We sat there at the gate and this woman comes driving up on a 4-wheeler.  She is about 50 or older, hair braided and wrapped up around her head with a bandana tied, capris and rubber boots, an apron, and a old worn out tank top.  wow.  She won't let us come into the yard, instead she has a trash can with chickens in it.  I told her that I wanted to spend around $20 so she gives me 3 layers, 5 2-month olds, and 7 chicks!  Good deal!  Thought it was weird that I couldn't even see where they came from, but whatever they all seem healthy and well taken care of.  I think this woman was possibly from Louisana, she had that Cajun sound about her.  She was really nice, but makes me wonder what she was hiding ya know?  I get privacy, but it was all kinda weird.

Life is never the way you expect it to be

5 years ago today I was really really really nervous.  Tomorrow Chris and I will celebrate our 5th wedding Anniversary.  Life never works out the way you plan it, God always has a different plan.  Chris and I had talked about kids and said we would wait 4 years....5 years later we have an almost 4 year old and a 2 year old.hmmm. :)  But I wouldn't change it now if I could.

Last night I drove over to Stockton to Forrest Home Missionary Baptist Church.  Bro Zane  was preaching their Wednesday night service.  I really surprised him when he got there- said he didn't ever expect to see me there. :)  Made me feel good though.  He did a wonderful job and preached on the last chapter of the Bible. (plus he threw my name in there a few times...kinda embarrassing, yet heartwarming) Katie Coffman was glad to see me too.  I hadn't seen her in a couple of years.

After Church Cooper locked my keys in my car. :( But luckily everyone was still there and they called a local guy to come and unlock it.  The church took care of the charges too! I argued but they wouldn't hear of it.  God's people are truly amazing and I don't know what I would do without them.

Ever since Sunday I just want to surround myself with God's people.  I want to go to church.  I can't wait until Sunday.  I hope Chris gets to go with us this Sunday he really needs to be in church.

I cannot put this feeling I have into words.  It is unexplainable.  My cup runneth over.  My heart is just filled with God's love and blessings.  Ever since I followed His will by joining the church I can't keep church out of my mind.  He has reassured me over and over and over these past few days.  Glory to His Name!

Such a beautiful blessed morning!

This morning I woke up at 5:30 am.  I never wake up that early.  I had a headache and it is still bothering me some (leftovers from this stupid sinus infection! grr) Well I figured since I was awake I knew I would feel better if I just got up.  So I did.  The weather outside is so nice right now 77 degrees.  When I went out to do chores at 6am it was so beautiful with the sun peeking over the treeline.  The chickens all looked at me like I was crazy but I opened their doors anyway lol.  They usually don't get let out of the coop until 8 or later.

One of my little Cochin/EE roosters finally found his crow; he and my silkie rooster were having a match. LOL!  It was so cute.  I am thinking about getting some more of the banty chickens, I have just fallen in love with them.  I found an ad on CL that has several mixed Cochin/Silkie/EE chicks all ages.  Which is perfect since that is the mix that I already have.  I think they are so adorable and would love  for them to hatch out more chicks next spring.

I have another broody EE right now.  It is our other white EE- haven't named her yet but I am letting her sit on 4 eggs.  I hope if she hatches them out that she will be a better mother than the other one was.  I wonder what a RIR/Silkie or a BR/Silkie looks like?  She is sitting on brown eggs and I know some of the eggs are being fertilized. 

I have chicks hatching in the incubator-their due date was yesterday but none hatched yesterday.  I had 2 hatch on Sunday and they are little Cochins.  I have one that pipped last night so there is still hope that some more of them will hatch.  The peacocks are due next Monday, but I am afraid that only 1 or 2 is going to hatch.  I feel bad for Joy- he is the owner of the pea eggs.  He gave me 7 and 2 out of 7 is not very good.  I guess he has only had 7 peachicks hatch out of 30 some eggs so far this spring.  I wish I could find him some cheap peachicks to give him as a present.  He gave 2 pea chicks the last time I hatched for him, but I am so in love with those two.  They are only about a month old but they have such a personality already!  I can't wait until they get older.

I ended up buying 2 bucks on Saturday from the lady in Tunas.  I bought 1 New Zealand and 1 Californian.  I am hoping for a better year this year on breeding.  I think I will wait until the end of August to start breeding though.  I don't want the mamas to get too hot.  I was 9 months pregnant in August and I don't have fur like they do.  It was miserable and I had AC! LOL

Chris and Dad baled more straw yesterday evening.  So far they have baled 273 bales.  They have quite a bit left to bale though.  We have a tractor pull tonight in Lebanon though so they won't get to bale tonight.  The pull starts at 7 but we have to go as soon as we can.

So I made some changes yesterday

I joined Rock Prarie.  I know most of you have no idea what I am talking about, but this is something I had battling the Lord with.  I had felt for about a month that I needed to join but hadn't been following my heart.  Bro. Zane had already called on someone to dismiss and I knew I had to say something.  They accepted me on the promise of a letter from Half Way.  You would not believe the amounts of blessings I recieved in the few short minutes after that.  Even right after I said it I knew it was the thing to do.  I just wish Chris had been there. 

I was scared to tell mom, dad, and granny.  Heck I was scared to tell Chris too.  But it all worked out and Dad said he knew I was going to join that he could feel it.  I was glad that other people had a feeling for me.  There were a few when they went around to give the right hand of christian fellowship that hugged me and told me they had had a feeling for me to join for a long time.  Granny was a bit upset, but after we talked about it she was assured that it was the right thing for me to do.  Mom was the most surprised of them all.  I don't think she thought I would do it.  But I came to spot where I knew I couldn't rely on what people thought and only could rely on the Lord.  I know he works in mysterious ways and this may be one of them.


May God Bless You All!
______________________________________

I have chicks hatching in the incubator.... they are so cute and fluffy.  All of God's creatures are cute.

I hate being sick...

So today I have no voice NONE.  Someone tried to call me awhile ago and I couldn't even answer. ugh.  Do you have any idea how hard it is to discipline kids with ZERO voice.  I can barely whisper...and whispering NO doesn't do any good to toddlers.

My throat hurts, my chest hurts when I cough and my nose is stopped up periodically. 

Tomorrow I am going to look at 2 white New Zealand bucks- the lady has 4 of them, but I only really need 2.  She lives over by the Amish Stores so of course I will have to stop and do a bit of shopping. lol

I am bummed about my gardens...  My beans are done.  The plants are dying and are bug eaten.  My potatoes are rotten under ground.  My corn has been choked by bindweed.  And the cantloupe has taken over-- along with the weeds.  Cucumbers are just now coming on, something is eating my zuchinni, and I only have green tomatoes and lots of blooms.  Sigh.  I really need more tomatoes, more corn, more peppers, more potatoes...etc.

Last night Chris and I discovered how truly stubborn our daughter is.  Chris put her to bed 5 times before she stayed and fell asleep.  She just kept getting up and screaming!  Chris' patience was wearing thin!  He had never saw this ugly side and now I think he has my sympathies. lol

A Pet Peeve Post

Reading over some post on BYC brings me to my latest pet peeve...

People that raise their own CHICKENS to EAT should process them themselves.  One they are missing out on that feeling of accomplishment and two it is something I think everyone should do.  It is not that hard to do.

I just don't understand why if you are going to raise animals why you don't have the stomach to kill them too?  I was always taught that it is okay that you don't like to do it, but you should be able to do it.  I have had to kill chicks and ducklings.  I shot a rooster a few months back.  We processed 22 chickens in about 4 hours when we did our meaties.  Plus after feeding the birds for weeks it isn't cost effective to pay someone to process them.

We pay someone to do our steers- but that is 500-600 lbs of meat.  If we had the setup to do it though, we would.  We process our own deer and turkeys though.  Knowing how to kill and cut up an animal is a survival skill- no matter where you live or what kind of background you have.  There would be less hungry people in this world if people knew how to do this. 

I think it should be required in school to learn native edible plants, how to cook on an open fire, and how to cut up small animals (and large).  It irritates me to see a homeless guy standing on the highway with a sign reading God Bless You- I am hungry and Broke---when a few feet up the road someone has hit a rabbit or squirrel...  Most likely he saw them hit it, if it wasn't just completely ruined he could have snatched it up, skinned and gutted it and roasted it on a fire.  The road ditches are filled with tiger lillies and blackberries this time of the year.  Did you know that most of the tiger lilly plant is edible?

I read a blog post the other day all about eating tiger lilies- very informational.  Also there are wild onions, morels in the spring, gooseberries, wild plums, wild grapes, and many many other plants and trees that are filled with vegetation!

I really think it should be a middle school requirement to learn about it all.  Our country expects our men and women to go fight in a war and kill humans, but yet most have never even killed a squirrel the humane way--a bullet.

I read gardening posts about poisoning and drowning squirrels- just sick!  I would rather be shot than poisoned or drowned! 

Now I am not claiming that I know how to gut and skin everything, but I think I know enough that I could get by.  .22 shells are cheap and if you don't have a gun you can always revert back to indian ways and use a bow and arrow, sling shot, or spear.  Also you can set small animal traps.

Homeless people wouldn't be so hungry and broke if they would revert back to the ways of their ancestors.  They could trap animals--sell the pelts feed their families.  So many people are just used to relying on other people it makes me so mad.

I wish we could just move away and become hill people.  Yes Hill people may be poor, but they don't care- they are fed and clothed well enough for them.  They work hard and enjoy life.  The simple things in life.  While computers are nice, I think they are ruining this world.  If we ever go into a depression and have war or something this country will fall quickly.  I am surprised that so many people overlook this.

I was reading yesterday that in Indiana they are banning teaching cursive writing in schools.  They have to teach typing instead.  How are kids going to know how to sign their name?  They won't be able to read cursive or enjoy a nice handwritten love letter. 

Which brings me to another pet peeve--DIVORCE.  Yes I feel that there are times when Divorce is needed, but these days it is so common that it is almost expected.  More times than I care to think about I have heard the phrase "I wonder how long it will last?"  Most people say I'll give it a year.  I plan on being with my husband until we die.  Till Death Do Us Part.  Did you know that some people take that out of the wedding ceremony? sheesh!  I don't understand why so many are getting divorces these days?  My parents have been together for 35 years come December--that should not be weird, that should be the norm.  Sure they have had their arguments-- but they NEVER fought in front of us kids and they never went to bed mad at each other.  My husband and I will celebrate 5 years in about a week.  I think most things can be worked out-if people just try.  Cheating is never okay- and usually the problem is not just cheating- there is usually a problem before the cheating that has been over looked.  You need to find the root of the problems before trying to work it all out.  I am not an expert and I know I am not, but seriously I cry for this world.  It is so sad what we have came to.

okay I will quit rambling and venting for today.

Something actually went down in price!!

Chicken FEED!! If I had someplace to store extra I would stock up lol!  I bought 1 50lb bag scratch, 1 50lb bag layer pellets, and 1 50lb bag of rabbit pellets and it was only $29.50!! So exciting! 

Yes things like that excite me...especially after I put $40 in the truck and it barely gave a quarter tank... lol

Oooo another exciting thing is that Chris found us a window for our truck...the one that was shattered awhile back by a pebble on I-44...It is the drivers side back window...the little tinted one on the dodge-- retail they want around $380 for one.  Yeah right!  Chris found one at a junk yard today for $125- which I think is still super high and no telling what they are going to charge to put it in. ugh.  At least we have the seed money right now from fescue.  And as soon as we get the straw baled we will be selling straw.  They tried to bale it Monday, but it was too wet and they needed to work on the baler anyway.  I think they are going to try and bale it today after Chris gets off work. (at least some of it...)

I hope to get some good pictures of them baling.  I want to make Mom and Dad a huge picture collage for Christmas of things around the farm.  I think it will be awesome. 

Yesterday evening I took a 30-gallon trash bag FULL of TOYS to the thrift store and there are still toys everywhere.  The kids haven't even seemed to miss them yet.  I am sure they will miss some of them later, but oh well.  We can't hold on to them forever-and they will always multiply.  I also took a 30-gallon bag FULL of clothes--need to take a few more! lol  I realized the other day that I really don't have very many clothes of my own that I can wear.  It is sad really.  Chris and I share t-shirts, shorts, socks, and even shoes.  I have 3 pairs of jeans that are all TOO big and 5-6 shirts that are nicer (church-ish) and a couple jean skirts.  Chris has like 10 pairs or more of jeans, work shirts, and a few church button ups.  Then we have the t-shirts...most of them are stained and have holes...and then we have about 4 pairs of shorts that we wear swimming and around the house.  In the winter we share hoodies and sweats too...and coats.  We wear the same size in shoes so he wears my good cowboy boots for good and I wear flip-flops mostly in the summer.  This winter he is going to HAVE to get him some new boots.  I guess he should be lucky that I am not a high maintenance girly girl!

Just realized I forgot to share

I only have 2 baby muscovies left... On friday something happened to 14 of them and I don't know what.  It happened in about 4 hours...I went out at 3 and saw them all with mama and even took pics! (will share in a moment) and then at 7 when I went out to feed the rabbits there were only 2 yellow ducklings and the mama was wandering around.  She wasn't paying any attention to the 2 ducklings so I caught them and I know have them in a brooder.  So sad.

Here are the adorable pics I took earlier that day:

And then saturday something got our Pekin...

and I think one of our bunnies is going to die today...

July has been such a rough month!

4th of July

Well today is the 4th of July...

When I was little this was a fun filled day and it makes me sad that my kids won't have the memories that I have.  I remember going over to my grandparents' house and BBQing, eating homemade ice cream and drinking "colored" pop.  They would have big metal tubs full of ice and pop- orange, grape, strawberry, cream soda, etc  The older cousins would all go down to the milk barn to set off firecrackers while the younger ones would play with the snappies and smoke bombs.  We would play softball and other games.  Once it became dark we would all gather our lawn chairs and blankets out in the orchard.  A few of the older cousins would set up the fireworks out on the HWY (yes the hwy) and start the show.  The younger cousins were given sparklers to "write and draw in the sky".  Before we went home for the night we would catch some lightening bugs and put them in a jar with some holes poked through with an old beat up ice pick.  Those were the days.

My parents are just too busy to stop and do anything like that these days.  It makes me sad.  No one seems to like to celebrate anymore- it always seems like a chore these days.  Mom said she wasn't going to do anything because she didn't have time to clean her house.  Who really care if there are a few cobwebs or the endtables are dusty?  We are going to be outside most of the time or in the pool.  But no she is not even home today.  My dad's mom is house-ridden with her broken hip and we have to take care of her.  My mom's mom is house ridden because she smokes too much and has made herself sick.  My mom's dad works way too hard and pushes himself until he can't go anymore.  He is way to old to be out mowing hay in 100 degree weather and no cab on the tractor.  He can barely walk across a parking lot with out holding on to grandma's wheelchair.  yet he thinks he needs to bale hay.  He doesn't even have very many cows, but he has land and is tight as they come.  He will sell the hay.  We all think he should just rent his land out.  I know my husband would like to rent it.

I think we will probably go out to the college tonight and watch the big fireworks display-that is if the kids aren't afraid like they were last year.

Yesterday Chris and I took them to their very first movie- Cars 2.  Sophia was afraid for the first few minutes, but she got over it.  Cooper LOVED it.  He wants to go back today.  I wouldn't mind if it weren't so expensive!  $5 for him and $8.50 for me!  It seems kinda pricey to me.

Today Chris and dad were going to start baling the straw, but miraculously it is too wet.  Yes it finally rained yesterday.  We are not complaining about it being too wet.

I would like to take the kids swimming today in the river, but Chris is not home, and I can't take them by myself.  Cooper likes to play in the water- Sophia is not so sure about the water, but she likes to splash a bit with her hands.

I grilled corn and hot dogs for lunch, but the corn wasn't very good.  I bought some cream soda to drink but it is not as good as those I had on the fourth when I was growing up.  I really miss those days.