Good times

I mentioned that I didn't do the things I had originally planned for this weekend.  It turned out to be a great weekend anyway.  I got to see some of my kiddos, got to hang with the grandkids, we got a ton of garden/yard work done, and I had Jim's blessing and help with some of my insane wants/projects.  I couldn't be happier!

Saturday, Jim and I finished tilling up the garden, planted some of the plants I had outside, and hauled a bunch of sticks and branches from the yard so we can think about mowing soon.  Then we went to Manhattan and had dinner with Preston and Sunny and spent some time visiting with them.  It was really good to see them!  I will always love Manhattan, and seeing the kids, so it was a great evening full of some of my favorite things!

While we were in Manhattan, Mallory and Madison took the girls to the Tulips at Twilight event at Ward Meade Park.   They had a great time, even if their faces look as if they are being tortured!  My friend Lynn used to say Madison was the most intimidating child she had ever seen due to the frowns and scowls that she used to throw out.  I'd say her girls came by this naturally!  I know they had a good time, because Evie told me all about it!

And because Wrenley got a milk shake - that she was allowed to "eat" in the car!  Looks like she heard milk shake - and she actually thought she had to shake it!  :)  

Jim and I made a discovery on our way home - they put a cheese store in the new gas station on I70!  We love the Alma Cheese place - but rarely get to Alma when they are open!  Yes I did go right in as Jim was pumping gas - and yes we are adequately stocked with cheese curds now!  No more rock candy - we now have to get cheese on the way home from MHK!  :)  

Saturday morning, the city of Carbondale had their Easter Egg hunt.  Madison and Andrew took the girls.  I laughed and laughed about Wrenley ONLY picking up Reese's eggs.  If it was any other candy she just walked right on by!  Atta girl!  She is a girl who knows what she needs!

The garden tilling got done, the fence posts got put up (some of them anyway) and we will be erecting a snow or deer fence - depending on which one is cheaper.  Between the goats, the deer, and the Maude, I figure we will need it!  I got onions, carrots and zucchini planted.  I might have been a little insane with my seed buying last fall...but when you find the seed on a super duper clearance sale, and the packs are literally 8 cents, how can you not buy all the seeds?  I have so many more packs to get in to the ground!  Some of them need to go in later though.  I don't know whether to think my 8 cent seeds will grow, but no worries, as I also purchased more seeds this year!  There will be plenty of plants I hope!

We also stopped off at Menards where I used our rebate forms to purchase - MORE strawberries!  I got them in the ground, and we managed to get all the plants I had started in Preston's room out there as well.  It was a productive couple of days!  

Cameron broke out the eye black for his flag football game, and then the chickens from Mo-dot never showed up!  I am pretty sure they were just scared! 

The babies are growing up fast!  This little brown boy I have completely fallen in love with.  I think I have Jim talked into using him as a herd billy, and not selling him!  I want to see how he grows this summer, but right now, that is the plan.  Black Star is an impressive little thing.  She is growing so well, and is so much bigger than the other babies!  We had a little trouble catching her yesterday so that Evelyn could pet her, and she was screaming like a fool when we finally got her caught!  She is a hearty screamer!  

The free apple trees.  They are in the ground, and looking pretty healthy so far.  Jim and I laughed at the wild branches, and will likely trim them back after we get them established a little more.  We will also probably need to stake them up to make them grow straight.  But they were free, so I am ok with these things.  We had a little bit of a hard time figuring out where we could plant them.  I learned that apple trees cannot grow within 35 feet of a black walnut tree.  We have a lot of walnut here, and finding a space that far away from one was difficult.  I actually hate walnuts, so I would be fine cutting them down, but the chemical is still in the ground so it wouldn't really help at this point.  

We also showed Wrenley her new goat.  Wrenley doesn't really like when the goats scream, and she was quick to leave the goats and swing and run outside.  It was beautiful out yesterday!  

Evie begged Poppy for a tire swing, got on it one time, proclaimed it a death trap, and has never even asked to get on it again.  Wrenley LOVES it!  Of course she does -if it is dangerous, she is all about it!

Also, I cracked up yesterday.  She was sitting in her highchair.  Jim sat down at the table with his dinner.  Next thing I know, Wren is crawling across the table, stops at Jim's plate, leans down like a dog and licks the frosting off his cupcake!  Then she stole his roll!  Brave girl!  

Poppy is too soft to get mad at these grandkids - he just would never.  They can eat his frosting and steal his roll and he is fine!  For the record, I am not brave enough to try either of those things!  :)  

Evelyn is infatuated with Skelly.  She knows he is in the hall closet, and often when she is here, she drags him out.  When they leave, I find him in random chairs, or standing someplace and it always cracks me up.  Yesterday, as I sat down to eat, I realized he was sitting between the girls at the table.  I guess I need to buy him some hats and outfits and just start dressing him up for all the holidays!

My baby is getting big.  She is not getting potty trained very well though.  She is definitely not the fastest at picking up this skill.  We are working on it.  I still love her!  She is a very sweet puppy!  She spent a lot of time outside this weekend, and watching her run with her ears flying is one of my favorite things!

Is it even a weekend if we don't burn something?  These are sticks we picked up from the yard, and some branches that Jim cut off a walnut tree.  After we got it going, I realized it might have been a little windy for burning, so I had to keep a close eye on it.  Luckily, we got all the hoses out and untangled yesterday!  Also luckily, we didn't need them!

This week is holy week.  I like to use my Lent time to reflect on things, try to make life a little better, try to do better with my attitudes and gratitude.  I find it a little bit difficult currently, as the country is going through what I would consider a dark, difficult time.  I knew it would be bad when the election was over, but I didn't realize how bad.  Still, I have to be thankful for the things I have been given, and I will continue to speak out for the people who have less.  In a country where there are plenty of resources, I feel like nobody should be living with less though.  It is not what we are supposed to do.  Why did Jesus flip the tables?  Why did Jesus repeatedly tell us to give our extra cloaks away, or to leave with nothing and he would provide for your needs?  Why would he tell us the greatest thing we can do is love?  Why have corporal works of mercy if you are going to throw them out the window?  I am trying - but man it is not easy to stay positive.  As we reflect on the life and death of Jesus, I will renew my commitment to live in peace, speak for justice, and righteousness, and I will try to be grateful for what I have been given.