Thankful for beaters to lick

Thankful For Countdown

Today I am thankful for my husband. He is by no means perfect and its unlikely he could take an ideal husband award. But he is mine. I know that he loves me and our children. We have grown up together. He's been my best friend since I was 15. He is the one who gets my jokes, makes me smile., makes me laugh. He's my shoulder to cry on. He is the one I can tell my secrets to. He understands me better than I understand myself. (Usually) *smile*
I have no doubt that God made him especially for me. For that, I am thankful.
Who are you thankful for?

Thankful for Countdown

I am only three days into my countdown and already have missed a post!  I have lots of excuses.....I had to clean the kitchen for the big thanksgiving feast next week, (which I am already seeing was pointless because there is no way we will keep it clean for a week), I had to clean Oxley's tank (which is an hour long process), I had to make my pre-thanksgiving grocery list, I had to keep the kids from hurting each other (which took all day and I was only semi-sucessful at), I had to prepare my piano music for church, I had to take pictures of and help with the deer my husband 'had' to kill during my already busy Saturday, and I had to take a nap (review list to see why I was tired).
Hence, today I am ever so thankful for quiet moments.  I love quiet moments more now than I ever have in my life.  I am always thankful for the few minutes I can get to myself to think quietly or to sit quietly without thinking. Either is nice at times.
What are you thankful for today?

Thankful For Countdown

Thanksgiving is fast approaching. I am hosting the Stroud family at my house this year. That means there is lots to do! Life doesn't stop just because the holidays are coming. If you are like me, it can be hard enough to keep up with day to day life. Throw in extra cleaning, pie baking and first time turkey- maker fear and things start to feel a bit daunting.
Each day I will need to stop and take a deep breath. I need to stop and remember why I am doing the things I'm doing. I am going to try to take time out each day to list one thing I am thankful for until Thanksgiving arrives.
Today I am thankful for my children. I say this even as Trey is whining for candy and Kayelynn is climbing in and out of her crib instead of taking her nap. I have days when I want to sell them to the highest bidder. In reality I know that I couldn't live without them. They are sweet and adorable. I love them. They are my future and the light of my life. They have no idea how much they are loved. I have thanked God for them over and over since he gave them to me. So today, as my sweet offspring challenges my last ounce of patience, I remember how thankful I am for them both and how empty my life would seem without them.
What are you thankful for?

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My Silly Kayelynn

I believe the things that are said about sibling rivalry are true. The younger sibling does seem to strive to have and do anything and everything that the elder sibling has or does. Here is a prime example from our dinner table.
Trey was in a foul mood and was being scolded every minute or two. Finally Daddy took Trey and put him in a time out. Kayelynn began whining, "I wan out!"(translation: "I want a time out")
Even after Trey returned to the table he was still misbehaving. Daddy declared that Trey must go to bed. While Daddy was taking Trey to his room, Kayelynn started crying softly. "What's wrong,Baby?" I asked her.
"I want bed" she sobbed.
I had to laugh. Kids really do want what the other has!

A Gift

I have fallen victim to my own stress. I have spent the past week being self absorbed, worrying over life's problems. I found myself asking "why do things have to be so complicated?" several times this week. Why can't I just get my way. The way I see it, if everything would just bend to my will, life could be so simple. But its just not that way, is it.
It is Sunday. I got up early to pick out the music I would play for church. I usually try to do this towards the middle of the week. Lately though, the beginning, middle and end of the week all run together. So, at 7am I was sitting at my keyboard rubbing the sleep from my eyes, trying to decide what I could play today. I hate it when playing the piano feels like a job.
While I was struggling with my piano music, Rex came dragging in. He had just gotten off a night shift and looked exhausted. We exchanged hellos and went over how both our nights had been. I could hear Kayelynn calling from her bed, "Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!" I sighed. I had hoped she'd sleep longer.
I fed the kids and got Rex off to bed. I got the kids dressed and still had ample time to get myself ready. Trey and Kayelynn sense when I am running ahead of schedule. They take that opportunity to start aggravating each other. Every 5 minutes I broke up a screaming match and reminded them that Daddy was trying to sleep.
After preventing Kayelynn from feeding the turtle a whole bottle of food, getting Trey out (literally "out") of the kitchen cabinet, and then chasing Kayelynn through the house to retrieve a tube of lipstick, I returned to the bathroom to try for the fifteenth time to put my make up on. Kayelynn hung off my leg crying "bips, bips". (This means she wants lipstick on her lips)
I looked at my reflection and sighed. "Sunday....day of rest. That's a joke." I thought. I tried to shrug off my negative attitude.
Several struggles, fights, and hair pullings later, I had all of us in the car ready to head to church. We headed off on our two mile trek to church. I always make it a point to drive the gravel roads to our church. The kids and I both enjoy our leisurely Sunday morning drives.
This morning Trey announces: "It is a beautiful day!" I glanced at him and had to smile at his exuberance. This is the attitude I need, I thought. It is a beautiful day, such a beautiful day its like a gift. I felt my negative attitude start to dissolve. I didn't know that there were more gifts in store for me.
A woman at church had brought with her a box of jewelry. She was offering pieces to all the ladies in the congregation. She explained to me after the service that she had acquired the jewelry at an auction but then hadn't worn it much. I looked at what she offered and felt blessed. I found a gold necklace that caught my eye. The necklace was plain, a gold rope chain. But it something that I needed. Just that morning while getting ready, I had wished for a necklace just like the one I now held in my hand. I looked at the woman and thanked her. She gave me a smile that said "think nothing of it". It was a gift. A gift of kindness that again helped me find happiness in the simple things.
For the rest of the day, my eyes were opened to the simple joys of my life: the sounds of my children playing together while I cleaned out our old farrowing house, an unexpected hug from Trey, Kayelynn holding still long enough for me to braid a flower into her hair, a stolen moment alone with my husband. All are gifts to me.
I am most thankful for the act of kindness from that friend at church. Without that act of kindness, I might have missed all the other gifts waiting on me today. I put that necklace on before I ever left the church. Each time I felt it or saw it around my neck I was reminded of how a simple gift can change a person's whole outlook on life.
~thanks beverly~

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Kitchen Help

I haven't had a post for a loooooong time. But this is part of the reason. Its canning season. Both kids love to help with tomato juice production!

What Trey's saying now (aka Treyisms)

1.  I was thrilled to find a preschool version of the Little House books.  I enjoyed reading Laura Ingalls Wilder as a young girl and have always known that I wanted to share her pioneer world with my own children.  Trey was instantly absorbed in the story as I read to him.  This book we were reading mentioned Pa working hard all summer to gather and chop firewood for winter.  I took a moment to talk with Trey about how important that job was and how time consuming and physically hard it was to do.  Trey processed this and said, " Well, maybe Pa should use a chainsaw like Daddy does."

2.  The sink in our bathroom is taller than most.  I usually lift Trey up to sit on the counter when he brushes his teeth.   One evening he twisted too much trying to reach something and he almost fell off of the counter.  I caught him and lifted him up close too me.  "Mom," he said, touching my face, "you are like a super hero!"

3.  Trey often will ride the four wheeler with me through the pasture.  We check all the cows and look for any new calves that may have been born.  Some of our cows have names. (Bessie, Frosty, Mary Lynn, Custard, Snowball, etc.)   We recently had a pretty little, tan colored calf born that we named Butterscotch.  We make a game out of seeing who can spot which cow first. This particular night, Trey called out excitedly "Mom! Look!  I spy Hopscotch Butter!"

A Confession

Sometimes I go to a baby store for no reason but to touch the tiny clothes.

Bugtime Bonding

     Tonight Trey and I caught lightening bugs.

      I, quite possibly, had more fun than he did.  I have vivid memories of doing this same thing when I was a kid.  I didn't have the fancy bug cage that Trey's bugs have.  My bug container was a glass Miracle Whip jar with holes punched through the metal lid.  My sister, Erica, would have her own jar too.  We'd do our best to fill our jars.  I don't remember this as being a competitive sport.  We were very cooperative with these endeavors and would help each other to make sure we got the most lightening bugs possible. Then we would get to take the bug jars to our room at bedtime and watch the glow as we fell asleep.

     Trey and I had the same mission tonight as my sister and I had 25 years ago.  (small pause, because I feel really old after that last sentence.)  The mission started when I revealed to him my Dollar Store Bug Motel find.  Trey was very excited with his new gift and began searching for lightening bugs at about 5pm.  Finally, around 8, I spotted a lightening bug as I was working in the garden.  Trey ran for his Bug Motel as fast as his little legs would carry him.  The hunt was on!  As Erica and I would do so long ago, Trey and I began to run about the yard barefooted.  I'm not sure why lightening bug hunting became a barefooted past time.  I think it has something to do with how nice the grass feels to your feet in the evenings.  It is soft and cool and just the slightest bit damp.  Evening barefoot walking is like a refresher for your tired feet.  That feeling of the blades of grass between my toes is directly linked to memories of night searches for little glowing bugs.
     Some things about lightening bug hunting were different for Trey than they were for me.  Trey's  bug hunt took place in the daylight.  I remember running and stumbling through the yard as dusky skies turned dark.  The low lighting made the hunt all that more exciting to us kids.  I feel sad that because of the time differences now, Trey won't really experience playing like that in the dark.  Despite the amount of sunlight, Trey and I had a wonderful time running and laughing together, trying to catch lightening bugs as they began to flit around the yard.

     I know the Bug Motel looks empty but we did find about a dozen lightening bugs.  Trey put a leaf in with the bugs (in case they get hungry).  He told them each goodnight with the promise of freedom (to find their families) in the morning.  I positioned the Bug Motel on Trey's bedside table.  I tucked him in and kissed him goodnight.  The best part of the night was seeing Trey roll to his side and stare at the bug container with anticipation lighting up his face.
     This is his first night sleeping with bedside bugs.  If I close my eyes, I can almost see myself as a girl, rolling to my side, after being put to bed, to catch a glimpse of the lightening bugs' glow.

Yard work is rough

K learns about dandelions

10 Gross Things Kayelynn has done in less than 12 hours:

1.  Sat in dog poop.  (only 5 minutes after going outside)
2.  Tried to eat a booger off of Trey's finger.
3.  Stuck her fingers in her own poop.
4.  Picked up a dead bird and pushed it around in her stroller.
5.  Rubbed peanut butter on her face and in her hair.
6.  Let the dogs lick peanut butter from her face and hair.
7.  Let a piece of candy fall out of her mouth into the dirt then picked it up and tried to eat it again.
8.  Tasted a mothball.
9.  Peed in the bathtub.
10.  Drank bath water (after peeing in it).

Kayelynn 18 mo. pictures

For all of you non-facebookers, here are some of  Kayelynn's 18 month pictures.

Would you look at those eyes!!!  I think this is why she has Daddy wrapped around her little finger.







This picture makes her look kind of shy.  Really, she is just soothing her gums.  She's been cutting molars for the past few weeks.











Kayelynn does like to have tea parties.  She was being very reserved the day we got these pictures done.  Usually there are bigger smiles at Kayelynn's tea parties.











I just love her big blue eyes.  ( I've probably mentioned that once or twice, haven't I)

 

                                                                          

The new bike

Trey got his first big boy bike today. He was very proud. I wish I had a picture of him riding it through the aisles of walmart. It was priceless. He had told me that he wanted a Thomas the Train bike. We looked everywhere but couldn't find one. He settled on a Buzz Lightyear bike. Trey has now put in a request for the rain to go away so he can "hit the road".

Its Not Even Noon and I Quit!!!

I know everybody has those days when things don't go right. But when you are in the middle of one of those days, it seems like everything bad only happens to you. (Actually, everything bad only happens to me!!!!)
I got up early this morning to do some things on the computer before the kids woke up. I also wanted to start some laundry and work on the dirty dishes that were about to overflow from the sink.
(To add to my drama, keep in mind, I am NOT a morning person. I loathe mornings. I wish that time would stand still for about an hour after my alarm goes off. That would almost be enough time for me to start feeling human before I have to start my day.)
So, the alarm goes off, I stumble from my bed to the bathroom to the kitchen to the couch. Once situated on the couch with my laptop, I start my task. I had a few med orders to look at for jail and an email to respond to. Not too bad, shouldn't take a lot of time. But, before I can finish, I hear Kayelynn fussing. (She's awake an hour before her usual wake up time!) So, I hurry to finish what I'm working on and disconnect from the internet. I pull the air card from my computer and reach up to set it in the window sill. (For those who don't know, an air card is a small device that you plug in to your computer to access the internet. It is about three inches long and costs about $50 an inch! I live too far out in the boonies to get the internet any other way)
Anyway, where were we? Oh yes, setting the air card on the window sill so I can go get fussy baby......only it hasn't been an hour since my alarm went off, so I'm not quite human yet. My vision is fuzzy and my coordination is worse than normal. I drop the air card before I can deposit it safely in the window ledge. I grumble to myself as I get up off of the couch. (This same thing happened a few days ago and it was a pain to move the couch and crawl around behind it)
I move the couch. No air card! Huh, that's weird. I run my hand along the top of the couch. No air card. I shake out all of the blankets I had been bundled in. No air card. I throw the cushions off of the couch. I'm getting frantic now as I begin sticking my hand down every crevice I can see. I find 2 legos, a toy cell phone, a pretzel, 3 fruit snacks, a fruit roll up package and something else that I couldn't put a name to. But NO air card.
Now I can hear Kayelynn yelling "Mommy boop!" (Which means K has a #2 ready for me in her diaper) and Trey is yelling at his sister from his room, telling her to be quiet so he can sleep. I sigh and give up on my search. Today was a preschool/daycare day for the kids and I didn't want to be late.
Getting the kids ready was pretty routine. Trey didn't want to get out of bed, didn't want to eat breakfast, and didn't want to change out of his pajamas (ok, he's a little like me)
Kayelynn on the other hand is totally ready to get up and dressed and "eaaaat". She chants (screams) 'eat' at me the whole time I am fixing her breakfast. Before I can finish preparing her breakfast I see that she has fished an old yogurt pouch out of the trash and is sucking on it. Ugh.
Finally both kids are cared for, I am dressed and laundry is started (sorry dishes, you must keep waiting). I return to the couch and begin my search over. Nothing. I unzip the cushion liners and feel around inside them (because somehow my air card may have managed to unzip that, crawl inside and then zip the cushion back up). I even turn the couch over (hurt my back a little). Still no air card. I am baffled.
I pack the kids up and head to town. Kayelynn is demanding her cup. I feel around my diaper bag. No cup. I sigh. Bad Mommy, taking baby to daycare with no cup.
Next stop is the grocery store. My phone rings while I am trying to check out. Its Rex. I call him back when I'm through. Bad news, the load of laundry I threw in isn't washing and the washer is making a strange buzzing noise. (Side note, 2 weeks ago repair man came to look at washer. $200 later, washer is broke again)
I made my way to the verizon store. I shelled out the money for a new air card. (Apparently the warranty doesn't cover when your couch eats your air card)
I am headed home. I wish I could crawl in bed and cover up my head but I suppose that is not the adult thing to do. Things could be worse. Right?!?
(FYI: I typed this while waiting on a train that was completely stopped on the tracks on the road I was using for a short cut home. Why me?)

I Love You....

Trey and I were taking a walk a few days ago. He said "Mommy, I love you as much as all the grasses on the ground." I squeezed his hand and told him I loved him too. "And I love Daddy as many as all the leaves on the trees." He stopped walking and gave me a quick hug around my leg. My heart melted.
We love you too Trey, as much as all the grasses and leaves and more.

Kayelynn pics

These pictures were supposed to be attached to my last post, but something went amiss. Just wanted you to see my dear, mischievous Kayelynn.

My Little Kayelynn

I haven't had a post dedicated to only Kayelynn lately. I have had lots of thoughts that I wanted to share about her but have found myself doing other things besides blogging about them. (this is partly because Kayelynn keeps me VERY busy!)
When I was pregnant and found out that I was having a girl, my thoughts went to frills, tea parties and baby dolls. I was excited. A sweet, angelic little girl was joining our family. (ha ha ha...sorry, having thoughts you can't hear)
Kayelynn is a sweet girl but not dainty or quiet. Frills are not for her. I thought I had trained her up right by putting a big bow or flower in her hair since birth. I thought she liked them because she always left them in her hair. I used to joke that she liked to accessorize. WRONG! She pulls out even the tiniest of bows that I try to sneak in her hair. I've all but given up that she'll ever wear bows again. She does like to accessorize, but in her own way. She has lots of plastic play jewelry. She loves to drape long sets of beads over her head and plastic bangles all the way up her arm. This is cute and adorable. (except when I have her in a sweet little church dress on Sunday morning and she throws herself on the ground to have a drama fit because I won't let her wear her plastic jewels to church)
We do have tea parties but they only last about 5 minutes. Then the party generally ends by Kayelynn hurdling the teapot across the room. She has dolls too. She even calls them "bebe". My heart melts when I see her rocking them, feeding them or wrapping them up in receiving blankets that used to be hers. Moments later I sigh as she beats the "bebe" against the wall. Kayelynn did show a fierce love for the culinary arts yesterday. Her cousin Leah gave her a kitchen set (complete with stove, oven, microwave, sink and cutting board, not to mention various foods and dishes) Kayelynn was in heaven. She was "organizing" the produce when Trey came to check out the new toys. Out of no where, Kayelynn stands up and tackles Trey, claws his eyes out and shouts what sounds like "mine! mine!"
Usually, Kayelynn gets along well with her brother but more and more they are learning how to pick at and aggravate each other. Her favorite toys are the bulldozers and trains that belong to Trey. This can be a precious bonding moment for them or a very dangerous and hostile situation. One never knows how it will go...
Mostly though, Kayelynn just wants to keep up with big brother. Anything he can do, she can do (or do it better) Kayelynn is queen of the swing set, loves four wheeler rides, wrestles with our dogs, chases goats, will moo at cows, tries to dress herself, feed herself, and brushes her own teeth. (the toothbrushing she actually does better than Brother)
She has funny little quirks like trying to eat the powder or desitin cream at every diaper change. When I come to get her out of bed in the morning, she has thrown out every stuffed animal and blanket she had with her when I tucked her in the night before. She also loves to blow rasberries ( which has actually developed into just spitting on people)
She is smart too. She can name her eyes, ears, nose and mouth. But beware when she points them out. You are likely to get your eye poked out. (gentle is not in her vocabulary) She loves to go to "preschool" with Brother and has been caught dragging around younger little boys by their necks.
Kayelynn is rough and tumble and will most likely grow into a full blown tom boy. But I love every inch of her. My heart almost bursts every time she says "I wuv ewe". I love how she snuggles close to my chest when I get ready to put her to bed (even though the snuggles only last for five seconds) And, I love, love, love her kisses. (which can be scary as she rushes towards you with her mouth wide open and her sharp little teeth coming right for your face)
I love her. I love her. I love her.

My Dog Sadie (part 3)

About a week ago, after I had put the kids to bed, I took a blanket out and laid beside Sadie. I stared up at the stars and caressed her soft ears. It occurred to me that her ears felt as soft that night as the first time I touched them although the rest of her coat had become rough and coarse from age and outdoor life. I laid out side with her for a long time thinking about all of the things I have already written about in my last two posts.
I was sad though. Sadie was sick. I had noticed that she had been losing weight and she had also developed a limp in her front leg. I had attributed all of this to age. She was 11 now. (77 in dog years)
When Sadie was no longer using her front leg, I decided to take her to the vet. The doctor's first thought was that Sadie's leg was broken. They took her for x-rays and I sat in the exam room feeling like a terrible pet owner for letting this go on for almost two weeks before bringing her in.
When the vet came back to talk to me I began to wish that Sadie's leg was broken. But it wasn't. Sadie has what the doctor thought was a fungal infection - blastonycoses. The blasto (as the vet called it) had given Sadie a high fever, attacked her joints (especially that front leg) and infiltrated her lungs. The vet explained to me what a terrible disease this was. There weren't any drugs that worked well to treat it. In fact I'd have to go to a "people pharmacy" to get her medication. I have worked in the medical profession long enough to read between the lines. The vet was trying to tell me that my dog was probably going to die. I teared up as I looked down at Sadie but pulled myself together before looking up at the vet again.
I'm glad I spent that evening outside with Sadie. Because today I had to dig my first grave, a Sadie sized grave. It was the thing I had feared for 11 years, the death of my first, most beloved, dog.
It was therapeutic for me to prepare her resting place. I cried while I dug it. I dug that grave with determination and care. It was the last thing I was going to be able to do for my Sadie and I wanted to do it well.
I let my mind run through every moment I could remember with her, from catching snowballs in her mouth to hiking trips to visits to the dog park. Sadie had been a spectacular dog. I believe she cared for me as much as I cared for her. This dog had laid in bed with me while I suffered through the grief process with my first miscarriage. Sadie had been my closest companion while Rex was at war in Iraq. She had been my driving buddy on long trips from Florida or North Carolina to Home. More than once we had gone through Taco Bell's drive thru and shared a chicken quesadilla. She was always there for me. Had I been for her? She gave me much joy and loved me unconditionally. I doubt I will ever have a dog mean so much to me as Sadie did.
The eternal optimist in me never gave up. I bought the ungodly, over priced medicine she needed. I gave it to her faithfully day after day. After two days on the medicine, she stopped eating. So, I diligently forced her to eat bits of meat and cheese. Then she began refusing to swallow these foods that I would give her. I consulted the vet and got medicines to help her appetite. Still she didn't want to eat. She was getting so thin. But still her eyes were bright. I kept on with her medicines and spent a little extra time with her trying to make her feel loved. Her leg was getting better but she was very weak. Two days ago I noticed her eyes looking sad, tired.
So, I wasn't shocked when I found her on this bright, beautiful April 15th morning. I wasn't shocked but I knelt by her and cried as I rubbed her soft little ears. All I could manage to say was "Sadie, oh my Sadie girl".
I cry now, even as I type this. It doesn't matter that I am a grown woman with children of her own. I am sad. I loved Sadie like she was a little person. I will miss her and think of her often. She was only here a short time but she made a big difference in my life.
She sleeps now under the little poplar tree closest to my house. A newly planted peony is there beside her to remind me every spring of my first dog, (the best dog ever), Sadie.

My Dog Sadie (part 2)

Sadie was 4 months old when we adopted her. Rex and I both adored her but were a bit concerned about her size. We lived in an apartment and we wondered how much more she would grow. Luckily, she had already done most of her growing.
Sadie was a lab mix. Her first visit to the vet enlightened us to the fact that she was a lab/basset mix. (I know, I know, this seems strange. But, on Sadie it was adorable. She did look mostly like a yellow lab. She was darker in color than most that I have seen. Her coloring made me think of butterscotch. But Sadie had short stumpy legs, basset legs, as the vet had pointed out. I thought she was adorable, no matter what her strange parentage had been.
Sadie had beautiful brown eyes too. Not chocolate brown, more like topaz. Her eyes sparkled like jewels. (For real! I'm not making this up) And I could read her like a book just by looking at her eyes. She had the most human eyes I have ever seen on a dog.
I also loved her ears. They were a shade darker than the rest of her and so soft. I could spend hours running my fingers over her ears and Sadie was content to let me do so.
Not only was Sadie cute and original in her make up. She was smart too. I had discovered an animal talk show on tv that ran on Animal Planet. I would watch often. There was a segment on each show that would show pet owners how to teach their dogs tricks. I would do just as instructed and work with Sadie. She would pick up commands after 4 or 5 tries. Rex would return home from school each day and we would have a new trick to show him. I was completely impressed with her ability to learn. She spent a weekend with a friend of ours, John Barkenbus, and when we picked her up he showed us what he had taught her. John pointed his fingers at her like a gun. "Bang!" he said. Sadie dropped to the floor and rolled over to her side to play dead. Brilliant!
Speaking of our friend John, Sadie loved him. She would hear him coming down the hallway to our apartment and she would know it was him. She'd stand at the door with her ears perked and head cocked to the side. John would scratch or knock on the door or call her name and Sadie would get so excited. (And she wasn't normally that excitable) But when John came over she would get so excited that she would pee just alittle even though she was completely house broken. I don't know how many spots I cleaned up in front of the door before we wised up. Eventually we would pay closer attention and as soon as Sadie would perk her ears up we would fling open the door and let her run out to "greet" John outside.
Even though she was full grown in size, Sadie was still a puppy and had a few bad puppy habits, like chewing.....everything. She ate part of our couch(luckily it wasn't in a noticeable spot), she mutilated several pencils, she even chewed up a 2x2 in square of our carpet. (And I mean chewed it up to where we could see the concrete sub floor.) (Luckily I was able to acquire some sutures and my med school husband was able to sew a carpet patch in)
Over time, we saw that carpet was Sadie's choice of attack whenever her nerves got the best of her. In June of 2001 we moved to Florida where Sadie ate an entire door mat the first time Rex and I both had to go to work and she was left alone. She was sick for weeks.
In 2003, we were living in North Carolina. Rex had just returned home from Iraq. We went out one night and came home to find Sadie had eaten a narrow four or five foot strip of carpet. This time she was even sicker and I ended up taking her to the vet where she was diagnosed with a bowel obstruction. (No joke). The doctor said we could do a $500 operation to try to save her or we could opt to put her to sleep. Surgery, of course! That was my choice but I knew I needed to run a $500 decision past my husband who was currently working with a whole battalion of marines. I was so afraid he would say we would have to put her to sleep. But, he didn't. He did say Sadie was going to become an outdoor dog as soon as she recovered from surgery. Sadie's transition to outdoor doggy-ness was harder on me than her. She adapted well and possibly liked being outdoors more than indoors.
We moved again to Washington, IN and then finally back home. Each move brought Sadie a bigger yard. I think she loved moving to the farm. She had all the room she wanted to run, woods to explore, and so many new animal smells to smell!
In December 2005 we brought Trey into our family. I worried how Sadie would react to him. We let her sniff him the day we came home from the hospital. She was unimpressed. As Trey got older, Sadie was never rough with him. She was getting older by now and was content just to watch Trey play. Trey liked Sadie too. Besides ma-ma and da-da, his first word was Sadie. I'll never forget hearing him say it, clear as a bell!
I always swore that having children would not make me neglect Sadie. But, kids did change things. I didn't have the time to spend outside with her like I used to. But, when I would be with her, I'd always rub her head and her super soft ears and tell her that she was the best dog in the world. And she would give me the look that said I was the best person in her world. For anyone who is not a dog person, that look is priceless.

My Dog Sadie

I never wanted a dog. I had never had a dog. Dogs were stupid and smelly. Dogs barked a lot and were known to jump on people. I didn't want a dog.
Rex on the other hand thought dogs were the ideal pet. He filled my head with stories about "man's best friend". He assured me he could pick out a good dog. He assured me I would love having a dog.
I did want a pet. I wanted a pet badly. We had been married for a year and had just moved to Indianapolis. I was a little lonely with Rex being in med school. I wanted something to love. If Rex said it had to be a dog then I would give a dog a try.
We agreed that we wanted to get an animal from the pound. I liked the idea of "saving" an animal. So, we went to look. At first, no luck. I wanted a puppy but there were none to be found.
On our third visit, I found a beagle pup that I thought was precious. We took him to the play room to see how he was. He was adorable. I ooooed and ahhhed his cuteness. But the puppy didn't pay any attention to me. The puppy spent the entire time trying to eat Rex's shoes. As much as I liked that puppy, Rex convinced me that it was not the perfect one. "Let's check out this other one I saw" Rex had suggested. I knew the dog he meant. She was a yellow lab mix. I had looked at her too. She was cute but not puppy tiny adorable.
But we took this dog (I think her name was Sunny or Sunshine) to the play room. She seemed a bit timid but pleasant enough. Rex and I each sat down. The dog was between us. She looked at Rex. Then she looked over at me. The next thing I knew, the dog was lying on the floor with her belly up and her little feet up in the air. My heart melted right then. I reached down to pet her belly. The dog looked up at me. Her eyes were so expressive. It was almost as if she was talking to me. "Please pick me. Please pick me. I'll be a good dog."
"I like her" I said as I joined the dog on the floor. Rex bent down to pet her too. He liked her as well and was going on and on about her being submissive by showing us her belly, how that was a good thing and she wasn't chewing his shoe off. He went on and on about all of the good qualities this dog seemed to have. I was already sold. This was my dog. My first dog!
I filled out the paper work and we arranged to pick the dog back up in a few days. I think we had to wait a certain period of time to make sure we wouldn't change our minds or something. I was disappointed that we couldn't take her home that day. But, I did have doggy shopping to do. And we needed to pick a name too. Rex came up with the name Sadie. It wasn't my first choice but I liked it. I was pulling for the name Pooh because she reminded me of Pooh Bear. We compromised and she would become Sadie Pooh Stroud.
On June 30, 1999, I went to pick up our new dog while Rex was at school. I felt very excited and a little nervous too. (Remember, I knew nothing about dogs and was in charge of getting this four legged thing home.) I did manage to get Sadie in the car with me. She might have thought I was crazy at first but after a few tries she hopped in the car. I rolled the window down for her. Hadn't I seen on tv or somewhere that dogs love to hang their heads out of car windows?
We were off to PetSmart. I had noticed that people could bring their pets into this store. I thought that was a novel idea. And what better way for us to bond than a shopping trip? The shopping trip went fine. I bought her some snacks and chew toys and practiced walking her around on her leash. I was starting to think I could handle this dog thing after all.
The trip home was the first lesson Sadie and I had to learn. We were back in my little white, Dodge Shadow leaving the parking lot. Sadie had her head out smelling all the great smells of Indianapolis. I was waiting to pull out onto 86th street. It was a pretty busy intersection and I had to wait thru more than one stoplight. Finally, I was going to make it. I gunned it a little to ensure I made it through the yellow light. It happened so quickly I didn't know what to do. Half way through the intersection I noticed that my passenger was missing. I checked my rear view mirror and there was Sadie lying in the street.
"Oh no!" I thought, " I've only had her a few hours and I've killed her or at least injured her severely." I jumped out of my car leaving it in the middle of the intersection. (Completely blocking traffic and causing much honking to start). Sadie is lying in the road motionless. "Here Sadie" I call. I do this over and over. But....:hello.....I just got the dog, she doesn't know her name. When I get to her I grab her collar and pull but she's not moving. She seems okay just completely traumatized by all of the honking (not to mention the fact that she just fell out of a moving vehicle!). A nice man got out of his car and picked her up for me (she was a big puppy!) and carried her to my car. We drove away unharmed physically but mentally exhausted. I never rolled the window completely down for her again.
If I loved her the day I brought her home, I loved her even more the next day and the next. It became clear right away that she was MY dog. Oh, she liked Rex and would obey him but Sadie and I just clicked. She was my companion and I was hers. I couldn't believe that I hadn't wanted a dog. Who wouldn't want a dog? This dog thing was great!

Peter Cottontail

Bath time at our house was a riot tonight. I really wanted to include pictures with this post but figured it would be inappropriate. You will just have to use your imaginations.....
I left the kids in the bathroom for a quick second to grab pajamas. On my way back to the bathroom, I see Kayelynn heading down the hallway (dripping wet and naked, mind you) pushing her shopping cart at full speed. I had to laugh. She was having a blast and thought it was hilarious when I chased her down the hall and swooped her up in my arms.
I took Kayelynn back to the bathroom to dry her off. Trey was still playing in the tub. I instructed him to stay there and play while I put Sister in bed. He agreed. But before I could make it out of the bathroom, Trey was climbing out of the tub. "What are you doing?! I just told you to stay IN the tub!"
"I know" Trey said. "But, I gotta go poop!"
"Fine", I relented, "but stay ON the potty until I get back to help you."
Trey agreed and I hurried to get Kayelynn in bed before anyone could cause trouble.
When I entered the bathroom again, Trey was standing sideways in front of the mirror, posing and twitching around being silly. "What are you doing?! I told you to stay on the potty! You will get a mess everywhere!"
"No I won't". Trey replied. " I fixed my butt"
With that, Trey twirled around and stuck his behind out towards me.
Sure enough, he had "fixed" things. A big wad of toilet paper was stuffed between his cheeks. I tried to look perturbed but broke a grin when Trey exclaimed proudly,
"Now I look just like Peter Cottontail!"

Happy Easter

Yes, we're gearing up for Easter. Trey and I colored eggs tonight. He really enjoyed himself. (And I think they came out pretty cute too)
I hope everyone has a good Easter!

When it Rains it Pours.....Literally

It hasn't been all rainbows and fuzzy kittens around the farm today. In fact, I have found myself looking to the heavens and asking "are you kidding me!?!"
For starters we lost one of the twins. (Calves... for those of you who missed the last couple posts) It was suffering yesterday and that makes me very sad. So, I was somewhat relieved that the calf had passed this morning. I feel guilty that I couldn't help it more. But I did all I could (including gavage feeding- thank you nursing degree). Death is part of farm life. But that knowledge never has made losing animals any easier for me.
To add insult to injury. The twins' Mama has decided not to accept the living twin. So now, Mama and baby have new digs up in the barn where they can "bond" and feedings can be monitored (and forced if needed) until everyone decides to play nice.
After contending with world's NOT so smart Cow Mama, then, low and behold, what do I find? A cow, roaming the pasture seeming to be trying to have a calf but possibly having some trouble. On closer inspection, she is not having a calf but appears to have a partially prolapsed uterus! (See me crying up to the heavens?). She, too, now has a suite at Hotel La Barn. Luckily, she seems okay for now but will have to be supervised closely in order to have a live birth. (Keep your fingers crossed)
Last but not least....rain, rain, rain. Me outside in the rain. Rain making more mud, mud, mud. Me outside in the mud.
I love this farm. I love this farm. I love this farm. (Ok. I really do love this farm. But could it at least stop raining for a few days?)

Part2 of 'The Calves are Coming...'

(I'm not sure why this didn't print yesterday. Refer to the previous pictures to see what I'm talking about. Sorry. Wish I was more tech saavy)

After taking care of the twins, Trey and I continued calf patrol. This is when we spotted Bessie way out in a small patch of trees by herself. I told him I thought she may have a baby soon. He studied her. After close observation and some questioning, Trey has learned this: "When the slimey stuff comes out under their tails,that means a baby is coming!" I thought this was brilliant but it could just be the ob nurse in me coming out again.
Next we came across this little calf who was trying his darndest to navigate on dry land. (Trey has given this one the name Spot.) We both got a kick out of watching him try out his "new" legs. Over and over Trey would giggle "look how wobblely!"
Then there was this guy. He seems to be quite the little brute. He is long legged and fiesty. He was already kicking and bucking around before he was even 12 hours old. I wish I could say the same for me. I cared for all my new babies and made it back to the house. I pried myself out of my rubber boots. (I never have quite figured out how to do that gracefully) Then, when my own children allowed it, I headed for the shower and found that I had been hauling half a bale of hay around in my pants. (Messy. But not as messy as my muck crusted jeans that hit the washer immediately upon entering the house). I proceeded with my shower and am now lying snuggled up on the couch in my jammies. (feeling a few aches and pains)
With all that said, I love being a stay at home mommy cow nurse! (But I hope it doesn't rain too much this week. I really am tired of the mud!)

Its that time of year

The calves are coming! The calves are coming!
This is one of my favorite times to live on a farm. The calves started coming March 1st. We have a total of 12 right now. I know there will be 13 by morning because I noticed Bessie (the first cow Rex and I ever bought) showing the "signs". By the end of spring we should have 40-45 little mooers and by the end of summer, 60. So, really, we're just getting warmed up. (That is, IF our bulls, Arnie and Leo, did their jobs last summer.)

We had a set of twins born today. This has been pretty rare for us. The last set of twins that I can remember was about 5 years ago. I found the twins fairly soon after their birth. Their Mama had them in the mud (seems to be a trend this year, one that I am not liking). One calf, the smaller of the two didn't seem to mind. She was up on her feet and pretty dry. The bigger calf (maybe had a tougher delivery) was lying in the mud not looking too lively.
So, in this situation I feel lucky to be well versed in OB nursing. I have learned that farming is much like nursing in many ways. Initial care for a calf is the same as for a newborn. You want a dry baby! (Not a mud caked, wet, slimy one).
This is a very simple step to take for human babies. They are born, handed off to the nurse or laid on mom's tummy and then they get a rub down from head to toe with lots of nice, dry sterile towels. The majority of the time this will be all the stimulation a baby needs to get started in the world.
Unfortunately, the act of drying a calf is not quite as simple. At least not when I have to be involved. On a perfect farm, Mama Cow would walk herself up to the barn, find the warmest, coziest spot available and birth her baby there without help from any one. She'd lick him off and get him all fluffy and dry. Then the little critter would hop up, find Mama's udder and go to town filling his belly up.
Let me tell you, I have wished for that perfect farm world multiple times in the past week as I find calves born in the mud or little newbies that have become stuck in the mud. 60 cows stomping around on soggy ground and adding their excrement to it, can make quite a mess! Its a mess that leaves my short self up to my knees (literally) in muck. People, that is not a pretty sight. And somewhat unpleasant for me too!
But you gotta do what ya gotta do. And today I had to don the big rubber boots and drag a calf out of the slop. Trey had ridden out with me and sat on the four wheeler shouting words of encouragement to me as I tried to make it thru the mud without falling over. (That's always my main goal...don't fall!)
Walking thru mud like this is tricky. You can be hopping along from dry patch to dry patch and before you know it you can't see your boots anymore because they are completely consumed by the mud. It kind of reminds me of the Coyote on Looney Toons.......you know, he's chasing Road Runner, doing great, about to catch him when suddenly he realizes that he ran right off of a cliff. It takes about 10 seconds for that to sink in then he plummets down into the canyon and lands with a splat. Yes, that is really a lot like me trying to get thru the mud......
I did manage to make the calf a nice little bed of straw, dried it off to the best of my ability and then persuaded it to take some milk from a bottle. Her sister came to join her. (and to check my leg for udders) All the while, Mama Cow was circling me, bawling at me a little. She acted as if I was the crazy one. I reminded her that I was not the one who had just given birth in a mud hole. She was just being a normal Mama, she let me do my work but "complained" a lot too. While I was feeding the calf, I heard Trey talking to Mama Cow. He was using his "soothing" voice, telling her, "Everything is going to be alright. Stop your mooing now. Mommy is taking good care of your baby. Its okay".
So far, everything is okay. But I worry about these twins a little. I would've liked to see them up nursing on their own before I went in tonight. The frustrating part of our farm is that a lot of times I do what I can and then have to let nature do the rest and hope for the best. We don't have much hi-tech equipment or even extra hands. Sometimes I'd like to take a calf to the nursery and put it under a warmer, give it some extra oxygen, check some blood work, monitor the intake and output....... (As I picture this in my head now it makes me laugh a little)

Sugar Bugs

For the past year, ever since Trey's cavity/filling episode at the dentist, he has been very diligent in his oral hygiene. Trey is constantly on the lookout for the ever elusive sugar bugs. I find him perched up on my vanity counter from time to time looking in his mouth. After every tooth brushing I must verify that there are no more sugar bugs in his mouth. Sometimes before eating something, Trey will inquire about the sugar bug content. Together we have discovered which foods contain no sugar bugs, just a few, a hundred and three or millions of sugar bugs. Sugar bugs are mentioned daily at my house. So, I wasn't completely surprised when Trey asked me what color sugar bugs are.
We were driving to preschool and he had just inhaled a granola bar. I thought for a minute and told him that I thought most sugar bugs were probably black or gray.
"Hmph" he said. "I guess that's not what this is then!"
I looked in the rear view mirror to see him closely examining something he'd just pulled out of his teeth. I had to laugh and shake my head. My silly son.....

Treyisms

We're running short on Treyisms lately. I think Trey is just as quirky as usual but I think he has been reusing old material.

1. We were out in the barn playing with our new kitties. Trey exclaimed " This is so amazing! I found a coconut!" On closer examination it was an old walnut. Bummer.

2. Trey came and sat on my lap facing me. He reached out and put his hands on my cheeks and pulled my face closer to his. He planted a big wet kiss on my nose. "Mommy, I love you four. And after my birthday I will love you five."
"Wow." I said. "That's a lot"
"Yeah, it is" Trey agreed. "And one day," Trey continued, "I'll love you thirty-three and thirty-three and thiry-three. " With that I got another kiss and a hug. I'm not sure what it all means but it seemed sweet!

Beware: Mice of Calmuck....

.....or at least mice of Stroud Farm. Well, maybe just the mice in the barn.....
Anyway, we have 3 new kitties now. A nice lady that Rex works with gave them to us. Trey is beside himself with happiness. The cats are about 5 months old and very tame. Today he spent about an hour in their cage with them! (For those of you wondering, the cats are just staying in their-very large-cage until they get used to their new surroundings. We didn't want them running off to be coyote food.) Trey thinks his new pets are wonderful and he has big plans for things they can do together when the weather is better. After spending some time with his new furry friends, Trey named them all by himself. So, welcome to the farm: BrownSugar, Whiskers and Bunny!

Better Late Than Never Treyisms

1. Trey-"I want two bothers"
Me- "Two!?!"
Trey- "Yeah, two is better than one, Mom"

2. Trey was arguing with me one day. When I turned to look at him he had his pants pulled down in the front and was standing in a funny way with his hips pointed out. "What are you doing?" I asked him. With his best western drawl he answered, " I'm-a-gonna shoot you with my peni!"

3. We were at church for choir practice. People were milling around talking to each other before getting started. (You can imagine, women talking and laughing) Trey managed to climb up to the podium. He banged on it with his fist. "Quiet everyone!" Trey said. This got their attention and some smiles and giggles. "Church is for quiet" Trey told them in a very hushed voice.

4. I was making chocolate no bake cookies one evening for something different. Trey had climbed up to the table to watch me dip them out onto the wax paper. "Mommy," he questioned me. "Why are you making cookies that look like poop?"

And cue the trumpets....du du dah!!!! The first ever Kayelynnism!!!

* Kayelynn came into the living room carrying a roll of toilet paper in one hand and in the other hand she drug a completely unfurled roll of toilet paper. When she saw she had gotten our attention, she said, "boop". Can anyone guess what I found in her diaper?

ARGH!!!!!

We found ourselves at McDonald's the other day. (the fun one in Washington that has the kids play area) We had time to kill while Grandma's dog (Weegie) was getting a haircut. So it was treats for everyone! (ice cream sundaes and endless play on the germ gym....I mean jungle gym)
We were the only people in the play area. It was the middle of the afternoon, lunch was long over but it was too early for the supper crowd. Trey was happily eating his ice cream. An employee had come in and was cleaning some windows but I hadn't really paid much attention to her. Then my thoughts were drawn to Trey who is now giggling to himself and singing a made up song to himself. The lyrics were this: " Funny, funny. One eye open, the other one not there. Funny, funny. Like a pirate, one eye open. Funny, funny." I gave him a strange look. I felt my head tip to the side and my eyes narrow as I tried to interpret his song. I'd never heard anything like this before from him. I feel puzzled and Trey is staring off in space not even aware that I am studying him. I follow his stare... to the McDonald's employee. My heart stops. Her back is to me. Please, I thought, let this woman have two eyes.....
The worker finished the window she was working on and turned to leave. I tried not to let my mouth fall open, but sure enough she was wearing a black eye patch over her right eye. She smiled at Trey and asked him how he was. He answered her and gave her a wave. All was well. Or at least it seemed that way. I sighed a sigh of relief. I was glad (proud if him in a way) that he didn't treat the woman any differently than he would another person.
After Trey finished his ice cream he decided he needed a trip to the bathroom. Up and out into the main part of McDonald's we go. We hadn't made it far when I spot a woman sitting at a booth wearing a bright blue eye patch. What are the odds?!? My heart picked up its pace again because I just knew that Trey would spot this. His walk did start to slow. Just as he began to say "Mommy...." I grabbed him by the arm and drug him back towards the bathrooms.
When we were out of earshot Trey finished his thought, "I've never seen so many pirates here before." Me neither and its really quite dangerous for me when I'm with an observant, inquisitive 4 year old!

Woooo Hoooo!!!!!

Its a follower post!!! I haven't written one of these for a LONG time! 23 followers for me : ) - it makes my toes tingle (whatever that means) 23 followers may not seem like very many to some of the big time bloggers but to me it is amazing. When some of my friends made mention of me starting a blog, I wasn't sure if I should. I mean really, who would want to read about my crazy kids, cows and goats? My day to day life is no more interesting than the person down the road. I wasn't even sure my family would read my blog let alone people with no blood ties to me. Now look at me, I'm sooo close to my goal of 25 followers, I can almost taste it. (taste it? I think I'm off my game tonight) The question is what shall I do to celebrate if I do reach 25 followers? Any suggestions?
Now its Sandy's moment to shine....she is lucky number 23. I use the word lucky loosely because there really isn't a prize for being #23. (But it does give me a warm fuzzy feeling inside.) Sandy goes to my church. I must admit, I was a little thrown when she told me this morning that she had been enjoying my blog. When I had time to think about it, I couldn't stop smiling. So, thanks Sandy! You honestly made my day.
I love to write on my blog. And I really get a good feeling when I see that I've made people smile or laugh from my stories. I like to share things that I find funny or sweet but at the end of the day when I hit the 'publish post' button I will still have an insecure moment and revert back to the shy little nerdy kid I was growing up. I am changing, slowly but surely. I get less and less shy about sharing my thoughts. I find more and more courage when I face that publish button. I am finding a little extra strength through this blog. And dear followers, I have you to thank! Please keep reading.

What's This?

I am willing to bet that anyone who has had kids or been around kids have had to answer questions that they really didn't want to answer. Here is the conversation Trey and I had after bath time. --- why are kids so inquisitive anyway?

I was drying Trey off and he was lying on the bath rug squirming around like crazy. He was up and down and side to side at least a hundred times in a few minutes. He finally landed, spread eagle in front of me.
"What's this?" he asked pointing down towards his privates.
"You know what that is." I said, "Its your peni". I don't make a big deal out of these questions. He usually doesn't dwell on things if I seem uninterested.
"No....not my peni.....this thing!?!" He exclaimed, pulling on himself.
Oh boy....what to say??? I didn't want to use slang and I couldn't think of anything else acceptable to say. So, remaining uninterested I replied.
"Oh, that's your scrotum."
Trey cracked up. I smiled inside that he found that word so amusing, but I kept a straight face while he giggled.
"Scrotum?!?" He laughed, "I never heard of that before!"
I didn't answer because I wanted the conversation to be over.
But, it wasn't.
"What's it for?" Trey asked.
Ugh...what's it for? What's it for? How is a good way to explain that?
"Uhhh....Ummm....." was all I seemed to be able to get out. I was drawing a blank.
Trey had his thoughtful look on.
"I know Mommy! Its for... to keep my peni from being lonely!"
I nodded. Sure. Why not? That made good enough sense to me. I relaxed a little. That wasn't so bad after all.
"Do you have a scrotum, Mommy?" Trey asked a short time later.
Yikes! He is still thinking about this.
"No, only boys have those" was my answer.
"So, Daddy has a scrotum?"
Good grief! I've got to get this kid to bed so he'll stop asking questions!
"Yes" I answered.
"Where does Daddy keep his?" Trey asked.
I was biting the bottom of my lip to keep from laughing now. But, I knew that laughing was out of the question.
"The same place you do" I replied.
"Oh." -short pause- "You wanna build a train track with me?"
"I'd love to!" I answered as I sighed with relief.

*SNOW*

Kayelynn was totally unimpressed with the snow even before we made it outside.  I put so many layers of clothing on her she seemed to have a hard time finding her balance.  She finally gave up and  laid on the kitchen floor, motionless,  (as if the effort to move was much too great) while Trey and I piled on our clothing layers.

Once outside, Kayelynn was still unimpressed with the snow, or greatly disappointed.  I'm not sure which.

Trey, on the other hand, was elated!

Here is another one of my attempts to get a picture of both of my kids together "enjoying" the snow!



It also seems that when Trey is very happy (and saying "cheeeeeeese") he closes his eyes for every picture I take!

Trey went sledding for the first time.  He LOVES it!  I don't know how many times he went down Grandma's hill.  This particular hill is like the bunny slope of sledding but Trey didn't care.  Each trip down was more fun that the one before.
When he gets older, we have a huge hill in our back yard.  But, Trey will have to learn how to bail off of the sled before hitting the woods before I send him down that one.  ; )

Sledding was sooo much fun, Trey never complained (not even once) about climbing back up the hill.

my collection of christmas memories

Christmas is over but I am just now getting around to posting some of my pictures!  I suppose the meaning of Christmas is supposed to live in our hearts all year so Christmas pictures should always be in season.  : ) These pictures are just a snippet of our holiday season and adventures had.  But each picture holds a special memory for me.  I hope my memories will remind you of the special moments you had or of moments long past that you still hold dear.

I have mentioned before that I am absolutely TERRIBLE at taking pictures.  My children also do not enjoy posing for pictures.  This combination makes it extremely difficult for me to get pictures of my kids together.  I used to struggle and struggle with these poses.  As of late I have decided to go with the flow and just accept what I get.  And this is what it was on Christmas Sunday....Trey is not moving because I bribed him but also not smiling because he really wants to move.  Kayelynn is just too darn busy to hold still for a picture.  I literally had to set her down and lean as far back as I could to snap the picture immediately because within a few seconds, she was long gone.  But, that is Kayelynn.  She always has somewhere to go.  I think she even moves in her sleep!

As I was saying......this girl of mine NEVER holds still!  I can dress her up in pretty clothes, ribbons and bows but that doesn't keep her from wanting to climb on things and be adventurous.  I can see already that she is going to be a tough cookie that can't turn down trying something new.  As much as I wanted a girly girl, I totally love this little gal!  Her sense of adventure and her excitement in discovering new things always brings a smile to my face (even when she is discovering the toilet or trash can)  I hope she always  finds joy in learning about things.  I also hope she keeps her energetic spirit.  The twinkle in her eyes when she's on the move seems to be the cornerstone of her whole being.

Trey on the other hand, he is my quieter child, my deep thinker.  Also, of course, obsessed with trains!  As you can see, the first thing he wanted to do when he got to Grandma's house was break out the train track.  He then played with his trains for the majority of the day, dazzling relatives with his extensive train lingo and know-how.
I also like this picture because Trey reminds me  (through the eyes) of some pictures of my dad when he was a boy.

Did someone mention Christmas cookies?  My little on-the-go-girl loves to eat.  One of her newest tricks includes climbing up onto the kitchen table.  She will then say "foo" (food) or "moe" (more) until she gets something to eat.  Simply taking her off the table and redirecting her does not work.  Within seconds she will be climbing the chair again until she gets a snack.

Christmas Eve was spent with the Stroud side of the family.  Most might say that this is not a very good picture.  But as I look at it I can feel the excitement from the kids, working together to "help" Grandma get her present unwrapped.  I was surprised and delighted to see how well Trey and Kayelynn actually worked together when it came to presents.  Isn't it funny how it doesn't matter who the present belongs to or what might be inside.  The actual fun of presents seems to be in the unwrapping!

This is one of my favorite memories from this Christmas:  It was Christmas Eve night, jammies were  on and teeth were brushed.  All the wee ones were ready for bed.  I reminded Trey that we needed to leave a snack out for Santa.  "I know just what he wants!"  Trey cried.  I had an idea too.  There were a few Christmas cookies that Trey had helped to make left in the kitchen.  That is the direction I was headed when Trey shouted "APPLE JUICE AND CHEESE".   Apple juice and cheese?  Yes, Trey insisted that this was Santa's favorite. (more like Trey's favorite)
The next morning Trey was delighted that Santa had eaten all of his snack AND left him "a message".

What's not to love about this picture?!?  Look at the pure joy on his face.
 This is what I dreamed of when I thought about having children of my own.  The happiness that a child's joy brings is unbelievable.

I also find great entertainment in watching the kids experience things for the first time.
 Kayelynn was quick to learn that the stocking held many fun treasures.  She was delighted to find that she could empty the contents onto the floor without being scolded and rip at the wrapping paper without reprimand.
And I was delighted to let her do it all on her own!

Nana and Poppy (maybe more Nana than Poppy) REALLY wanted a picture of all of the grandkids by the Christmas tree.  Notice Kayelynn is not in this shot.  (she had already sprinted off to check something else out)  The other three are sitting still as instructed so that they can get their presents as soon as the picture torture is over.  What is best about this picture is the actual expressions on their faces.  Leah, our little diva, is happy to smile for the camera.  Trey is sitting still but totally bummed that the picture taking is prolonging his present opening.  And Caleb, he's just bored.  My sister, Ashley, captured the best shot from this pose.  Maybe she will share it with me so I can share it with all of you.....

Here is proof that Kayelynn was at my family Christmas.  She was able to stay in one spot long enough to open her own presents.  Note the tiny pieces of wrapping paper on the floor.  This is the method that Kayelynn uses for unwrapping.  Every small shred of paper must be removed from the gift box.  Once she has finished that meticulous task her box was free game for anyone to open.

The flashlight.......
Trey loved his Thomas the Tank Engine flash light.  And this was no ordinary flashlight, it had a blinker switch to enable train signaling.  It also had a built in train whistle that the adults decided not to tell the boys about.  Yet somehow, the boys figured that secret out without a problem.
Trey and his cousin, Caleb, went down willingly for an afternoon nap.  Each snuggled in their own sleeping bag with their flashlights in hand.  An hour later, we adults could hear giggles coming from upstairs where the boys were "sleeping".  When Aunt Ash went to check on them, she found a full light show taking place with the flash lights turned light sabers......

This picture was supposed to show multiple generations of the Stroud family.  On the couch is Uncle Bill (he shares Trey's birthday), his wife Aunt Sylvie, and her brother Uncle Boyd.  The guys on the floor are Rex and his brother Cody.  Any guesses where the youngest generation is?  (its kind of like where's waldo)

I saved this picture for last because I think it is very precious.  People talk about the wonder of christmas.  I think this picture demonstrates a child's wonderment in general.
Kayelynn was rather impressed with her newest (second) cousin on the Drew side.  She wanted to pat and touch the baby.  Her excitement was well contained (for a one year old)
But if this picture showed Kayelynn's bright eyes, you'd see all of the wonder, joy and excitement of Christmas that we Strouds experienced this season.