farm – The Bless Your Heart Blog

A Little of This, A Little of That

The kids got Wendy’s coupons for free Junior Frosties a while back and we decided to use those puppies for Fun Friday!

She ate the whole thing by herself! (Don't even think of helping her with that spoon!) — She ate the whole thing by herself! (Don’t even think of helping her with that spoon!)

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Earlier this week, as we were rushing around getting ready for Awana/Cubbies, I looked at the calendar and with about 12 minutes to spare, saw it was a “crazy hair day.” Normally, we would fall under that category anyways but we wanted to go with something a little more purposeful.

We decided upon a donut..on a donut plate. I made a quick bun and an even quicker donut frosting with sprinkles out of foam. (Have I told you how much I love foam?? LOVE that stuff.) Thankfully, this had a sticky back and we stuck it right to her hair!

Cute as a button and sweet as...a donut! — Cute as a button and sweet as…a donut!

Of course, with all the picture taking, Wryder wanted in on the action.

One handsome rascal! He picked out his entire outfit all by himself. Swoon.

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We got a new game for Christmas called “Life on the Farm.” The kids couldn’t wait to bust it out and it really is fun to play, for a couple of country kids especially. You get to buy and sell cows for the most part – right up dad’s alley, too.

Dad had spread himself kind of thin and had to pass up an opportunity to buy cows for a really cheap price.

Sawyer: “Wait, why in the world would you pass on a cattle auction?”

Oh, yes, a girl after her daddy’s heart…

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We’ve started school again (after a lengthy and well-deserved Christmas break). This time around, Sayble is only napping once a day instead of two, so we’re all trying to figure out what that looks like as far as school (and mom’s sanity) goes.

Lately, there’s been a lot of this:

This sweet little thing LOVES to write! As long as we can keep it on paper, I’m A-ok with that!

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Over New Year’s, we all traveled to North Platte to do some post-Christmas shopping/errand running and Wrexy insisted on pedicures for the girls! (We didn’t object much!)

I sure love this girl... — I sure love this girl…

Sawyer had her first one before her 5th birthday and has loved them ever since!

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We also took a tour of the Perkins County Museum! It’s in a beautiful, historic home right off Main street and she’s been wanting to go in for a while. That morning, I just happened to see that they were open so I surprised her with a visit!

It was really neat and our tour guide was just as sweet as pie! So many cool things to see but I loved the old school house, but didn’t get a picture. What the what?!

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We have the privilege of throwing a sweet one year old’s birthday party this next week! I’ve been working on cutting and stringing and all kinds of little paper crafts. I can only give you a sneak peek for now but I’ll make sure and post lots of pictures after the fact!

Someone's growing up... — Someone’s growing up…

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It feels like we’re getting back into our routine again after the holiday season. We’re currently bracing for a snow/ice storm that we’re all hoping isn’t as bad as the meteorologists are predicting. I’m hoping to get get my fair share of football games in if the electricity will stay on!

Farm Fun

Our sweet neighbor – who takes care of things when we are out of town, helps us thaw frozen pipes, rescues me when my battery is dead…seriously, he’s a saint – invited the kids over the other day for some farm fun!

There are new baby lambs on the place so we had to go check them out!

How cute is this guy, backwards hat and all?

She's pretty cute, too! — She’s pretty cute, too!

Sayble loves having her wheels under her and just wanted to explore!

Gettin' a little help from dad... — Gettin’ a little help from dad…

We are so thankful to have such wonderful neighbors!

Life’s a Zoo

My sweet Wrexy has always loved animals…animals of any kind, really. Cattle, goats, pigeons, chickens, beta fish – you name it, he’s raised them. He has a dream of one day living on a place that has all kinds of exotics as you drive in; giraffes, zebras, camels…

It usually feels like we’re getting a head start on that dream around here – ha! He brought home several surprises this week to add to our little petting zoo.

Monday, he brought home baby chicks!

We have about 30 hens at the moment and he wants to order a big batch of 100 like we did last year but in the meantime, we shall buy a few at a time because it’s just good fun!

The kids LOVE them, especially Sawyer; she treats them like her second sibling.

Going for a trailer ride... — Going for a trailer ride…

The chicks have gotten married a few times…

Marrying Cinderella... — Marrying Cinderella…

She takes such good care of them and loves to just snuggle up with them on the couch.

We’ve gone through a few paper towels/toilet paper as she totes them around the house…

Tonight, daddy brought home an even BIGGER surprise!

Bottle goats! Sawyer LOVES sheep and goats and this has been on our to-do list for a while. These little guys’ momma died a few days ago so a friend of daddy’s made us a good deal. (The goats cost less than the milk to feed them. Sheesh!)

She's got a quite a knack for getting them to eat... — She’s got a quite a knack for getting them to eat…

She’s kind of a natural, like her daddy, when it comes to handling livestock. These guys had been on a nurse nanny and this was their first time on a bottle and she did great!

She and Wryder both like this colored up one. I’m assuming it will be hers since she does most of the work. She’s at the barn with dad right now giving them another feeding.

I’m so thankful that we have a little bit of room and an old barn to house stuff like this. I’m so thankful for a hubby who constantly surprises us with animals and experiences. I’m so thankful my kids get to experience caring for another creature at such an early age. Here’s to hoping they don’t get over cared for… 😉

Random Rambles

We all ventured out to the sale barn with daddy today. I needed a whole slew of random items from Wal-Mart and I always feel bad making hubby face the mad house after working all day.

Wryder shopped with me while sister stayed and collected money from all of the elder cow buyers to buy a pop to go with her popcorn. 😉 She’s kind of a hit around that place.

Brother and I met up with them a bit later and good gravy does that boy love the sale barn. He ate his fair share of popcorn, gave high gives, moo-ed at cows, double-fisted suckers and fell in love. This boy is ALL about tractors these days and he found a tractor house magazine…

Tractors and popcorn - a match made in heaven — Tractors and popcorn – a match made in heaven

He had a death grip on that magazine and cried when we took it away to eat lunch. He was reunited again once we got in the pickup and he fell asleep with it in his arms.

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Our sweet neighbors finished up corn harvest today and the kids snuck in one last ride around the field before next year.

I'm not totally sure what's going on here, but I LOVE this pic! — I’m not totally sure what’s going on here, but I LOVE this pic!

They were so excited to ride the combine in the dark and came home a bundle of loud, raucous storytellers!

Thank you, sweet Kruegers, for all the starts and stops so the Phipps kids could experience harvest!!

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Tomorrow is election day in Colorado. We’re gonna head to the local courthouse tomorrow and do our civic duties. The last time we voted, Sawyer thought we were going “boating.” She kept asking, “Where’s the boat??” Poor kid was slightly disappointed. We told her she would be grateful for the chance to vote one day.

Lately, she’s been playing Sesame Street and having words and letters of the day. The past couple of days, she’s been saying that “ridiculous” is the word of the day, but she pronounces it ree-dick-lee-us. It’s hysterical.

We’re not big supporters of Proposition 105 for a plethora of reasons. We were talking about it tonight at supper and we got her on video saying this tonight…

IMG_3402

Funny stuff.

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Speaking of funny stuff, Wryder has a new “trick.”

IMG_3401

WHY is poop so fascinating to children?!?

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Love this weather. Love this family. Love this life.

Sure is Purdy Out

This fall weather has been absolutely astounding! Normally in Colorado, we’d have had at least one snow by now but it looks like nothing but sunshine on the horizon. While I don’t really appreciate 86 degrees in darn near November, it has made going outside quite enjoyable.

Daddy went to a funeral this morning so the kids and I decided to take advantage of this nice weather at the park.

They LOVED all the leaves! We have a few trees around the place but they’re all either cedar, pine or Chinese Elm; not too many leaves falling around here. Sawyer picked her three favorites to bring home for daddy.

We spent the majority of yesterday outside, too. We surprised daddy by cleaning up the barn and the feed room – a chore! – and this afternoon, we hope to finish a new cover for the well house. AND…I have GOT to finish little Wryder’s Halloween costume…but I need my handsome seamstress for that. 🙂

Enjoying the warm weather but yearning for a good freeze…I’m a little over all things that fly…namely flies.

Mars Vs Venus

Our sweet neighbors are in the throes of corn harvest and the kiddos got to go ride in the combine this afternoon! They were FIRED UP! Wryder is all about anything tractor related and any time Sawyer gets to spend with Mr. Rick, she’s all about.

She got her cowgirl clothes on again…

and out they went!

I stayed home to finish unpacking and doing laundry since we were gone all weekend in Denver…and tomorrow is doomsday in my book. I have to go to the dentist and get at least one tooth pulled. Fun yes? NO. Pray for me…please.

I asked daddy to take some pics since I wasn’t gonna go this time…………and this is what he came home with.

That’s it. That’s all the pictures he took. Not one of the kids in the combine…or with Mr. Rick…or by the grain cart…just corn…that I see out every window of our house every day.

Sigh.

I mean, I didn’t specify pics OF THE CHILDREN or the experience, but I guess I thought that was a given?! Sawyer said, “I guess we’ll just have to go again!” I wasn’t quite that gracious. *ahem*

Funny how different we can be sometimes, yes? I just have to laugh…

Worth 1,000 Words: Petting Zoo

We had the privilege of assisting a ministry with a petting zoo this week! (I know…we had NOTHING else going on, why not?!) Apparently, it’s common knowledge that the Phipps’ always have a small menagerie of animals around and, of course, we jumped at the opportunity! We love kids…we love livestock…we love doing things that the whole family can participate in – it was a win win!

We had a ton of fun talking to the kids about they animals and THEY had a ball petting them, feeding them and begging to take them home. Here are a few pics from the evening…

Rabbits and cats and lots of chickens! — Rabbits and cats and lots of birds!

The kids LOVED these little chickens - they're so gentle! — The kids LOVED these little chickens – they’re so gentle!

MeMo the rabbit his debut and even let a little boy carry him around sans injury!

There were bottle goats and a bottle calf... — There were bottle goats and a bottle calf…

We COULDN'T leave Ozark at home! — We COULDN’T leave Ozark at home!

And there was plenty of feed for everything! — There was plenty of feed for everything!

These guys have made their home in the barn... — These guys have made their home in the barn…

And the kids loved them so much (as did we), our cousin Courtney gave us two more! There were two excited littles around here this morning!

I think he likes her... — I think he likes her…

Yes, he MUST touch it's mouth... — Yes, he MUST touch it’s mouth…

Thank you to the Royal Family Kids Camp for allowing us to be a part of your week and thank you to Courtney for our sweet new additions!

Random Rambles

We’ve been fighting off the ick around here. It started in the kids as (what I thought were) just little allergies. Now, they both have full blown upper respiratory infections. BOO. We’re going to see some VERY important little people next week so we must, must, must be well! Pray for us, would ya?!

Cutest sick guy around... — Cutest sick guy around…

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My to-do list to be able to leave and see those VERY important little people is a little extensive, ahem.

Just a few things... — Just a few things…

This is it. It’s taped to the bedroom door. It touches the floor. And doesn’t include the basic things such as packing/snacks/cleaning/baking. Come on supernatural mom powers!

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Wryder hasn’t had much appetite lately thanks to the ick. He did, however, master some fork skills yesterday.

Green beans on a fork are way better than green beans with your fingers, just sayin’…

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We have a new bucket calf around the place. Sawyer named him Fuzzy and he is doggone CUTE!

He may have to find another place to live thanks to our cross country road trip but for now, he’s a lot of fun!

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In the past two years, our yard has gained some ~~pesky little~~ visitors. IF we had sod everywhere and IF they weren’t so cute, we’d have already eradicated these little boogers so they didn’t completely destroy the place.

They’re quite fun to watch but they sure don’t let you get too close. I’ve tried to sneak Sawyer out there several times with no luck. She’s set up a spy shack in the playroom to catch a glimpse of them out the window. We’ll see how it goes.

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Sawyer is in looooooooove with the story of Cinderella. She recently discovered that we had the book and I can’t count the number of times we’ve read it. She now has it memorized, voices and all. It’s pretty impressive! I’m thinking her Goo Goo is gonna think that’s the bees knees…

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July is one of my favorite cow-buying months…because they don’t buy a lot of cows. 🙂 We get Wrexy to ourselves for 14 out of the next 16 days. Well, I mean we’ll share him a little bit with the rest of the fam, including these sweeties.

The boys are doing soooooo well…miraculously well! I can’t even begin to tell you all of the ways the Lord has poured out His favor on these five. We can not WAIT to officially meet them and cuddle them and physically witness the miracle they are. He is good and what He does is good.

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We’re headed up to pack Sawyer’s suitcase. Poor kid has only asked about it everyday for about 10 days now. She’s a little excited. So we’re gonna pack and clean house and hopefully sneak in a nap…and pray that the tornadoes stay away for the day. Then we gotta tackle the rest of that to-do list. WE CAN DO IT! (said in the voice of the mice on Cinderella)…

Random Rambles

Sawyer has had me in stitches today!! It’s so funny what kids hear and interpret… She was hanging out with her buddy Caiden the other day and they were discussing the neighbor’s dog, Pepper.

Pepper is getting up there in age and doesn’t have much of her hearing left, poor thing. According to Sawyer, which is according to Caiden, Pepper lost her “earring” and has been looking for it.

I’m pretty sure she meant ‘hearing,’ I’m just not sure which kid was confused first!

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We were eating lunch and she had another funny misunderstanding!

Sawyer: Remember when we played wedding the other day? What was your favorite part?

Me: I liked the rehearsal dinner you hosted.

Sawyer: And what else?

Me: I liked taking pictures of you in your wedding dress?

Sawyer: And what else?

Me: Well, those were my two favorite things…

Sawyer: I thought you liked the part where they say, “You may now kiss the prize!”

I like her thinking…. 😉

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We’ve been working on a few Father’s Day surprises around here.

Sawyer answered these questions about her daddy yesterday. I think these were made to get funny answers but our little smarty knew all the right ones.

Today, they colored special pictures…

The tongue helps you stay in the lines... — The tongue helps you stay in the lines

We’ve got to finish wrapping presents, bake a cake and then do a little decorating…that may or may not involve cow cutouts and bidding cards.

These are steers, not cows, but you get the point... — These are steers, not cows, but you get the point

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I was doing laundry earlier and was thinking how much effort it really wasn’t. I just toss the clothes in the white box, pour in some soap and shut the lid! Same with drying; toss them in the other white box, shut the door and away I go! I remember my grandma talking about washing clothes with a washboard and wringer…with four kids. We don’t have a clue. It’s just another reason (in my book) that we don’t have any excuses as parents to not spend good one-on-one, life-investing time with our kids. We most definitely have more distractions than our elders, but not near as much necessary work.

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Sawyer has been interested in weather for a while now. Probably because I’ve had my eye on it a few times here in the last couple of months. Today, she found her microphone and started playing “weather girl.” Before I knew it, she had gotten her map out of her desk and was really going to town! I hung it up for her so she could “stand in front of it like they do on TV.”

I’ll have to get a video of her forecasting; she’s pretty good!

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The sod has rooted down nicely and the flowers are really taking off!

Chickens won't eat these - hallelujah — Chickens won’t eat these – hallelujah

Wrexy sprayed weeds around the property this morning and it’s time to mow again if the dew will stay down and the sun will shine a little. So thankful for all of this mildness and moisture, though…

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We have a busy weekend ahead of us…two birthday parties, a cow to breed, Father’s Day celebrations, yard work, giving daddy a day of rest (and a bunch of History/Discovery channel watching)…

And then…next weekend…the girl bestie and her family are coming to visit!!! We are so excited we can hardly see straight!

It’s been too long! Praying the weekend drags on and on and on…

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Happy Thursday!

Everywhere a Chick Chick

You might’ve seen this picture on Facebook this morning…

I ordered this shirt for little miss and it came in yesterday – perfect timing! She giggled about it all afternoon because the chicken “looked silly with it’s hat and purse.” 🙂 She got to wear it to town today to pick up a very special delivery!

Baby chicks!

We ordered 100 red leg hens and they all arrived safe and sound. We have about 70 layers right now but they’re all about egged out, so it was time to renew the herd? Clutch? What is a group of chickens called? A brood or a peep, thank you, Google.

Sawyer handled every chick as she helped daddy count them all and help them get their first drinks of water.

They were absolutely smitten with her! Every time she ventured into her space, they’d crowd around her and just stay.

Wryder thought they were AWESOME! He’s gonna be a little chicken man, too, I’m thinking.

We had to have a few lessons on gentleness after he held one by the leg and waved it around, but he caught on quickly. (Don’t tell PETA).

They’ll be laying eggs in seven to eight months. Until then, I’m thinking I know some kids that will have some fun with them…a couple of adults, too; I could sit and watch them all day…See why Wryder just wanted to squeeze ’em?!