Schpa-ghetti

Ya'll know I'm a HUGE fan of Italian food. If I could eat pasta every day of my life... I'd be one happy chick-ola! More overweight than I currently am? Absolutely... but happy none the less!

Alia too has a love of all things pasta... but Larren just wasn't joining the club. Every time we'd give her spaghetti she'd turn up her little nose, and ask for something else.

UNTIL... last week!

PHEW! Things are right again in my world!

Yummmmmy.... I think I know what we're having for supper! : ) Just kidding, kind of!

Mud-eee

It sold. Last night Jon sold his dirt bike... and I've yet to break the news to the girls! Maybe it's better if they just discover the little fact on their own! Yup, that's what I'm gonna do. I won't say a word unless they ask... cause it won't be a happy day at Kamp Kreiser when they put two and two together!

I was absolutely surprised (why? I have no idea... their past record of loving all things motorized should have told me differently!) that both Alia AND Larren took such a liking to the thing. But... did they ever.

Now that the bike is gone, the four wheeler will be moving even higher on the favorites list! Jon's putting that for sale too, but I think it's in our best interest to sell it AFTER he gets the new one! Being without a four wheeler would make for quite a lull in summer activity! I have quite enjoyed our family outings as we cruise around the tractor trails behind our place!

Alia did get quite a ride last week though! I think that ride is a good one to store in her memory bank!

I heard her and Jon pull back into the drive and then a "knock, knock, knock" on the door! I opened it to find a bright eyed, smiling Alia... pointing to the dirt bike... saying "Yook, yook at aww dat MUD Mommy!" Then she quickly ran back out to examine her handy work!

It was, indeed, muddy!

But she, somehow, managed to get not-a speck of dirt on her! She was clean as a whistle... and Jon wasn't too plastered either. How? I have no idea! 

If any of you know my beloved husband... you know that he's no stranger to mud! He's had his fair share of adventures, if you will! But this one took him by surprise. They were riding along happily and then insta-SINK! The front wheel was having a hard time turning and he was pretty sure they'd be bailing at any second. 

But they made it home without incident... the previous sparkling clean bike was sure in need of a bath, though!

Jon took it for a spin (one that was a little too speedy for the likes of kids) to clean it off a bit... while Alia waited, impatiently for him to turn back down the road!

People may have asked me if I have a problem with my girls riding on all these toys... and I'm always a little on the "Are you kidding me?" side! I LOVE that our children have opportunity to have fun with their daddy! I LOVE that they will be "well rounded" young ladies when they grow up! I LOVE that these "toys" bring us closer together as a family. I don't want our children to be confined to a small little yard with no where to explore! They need to go find snow mountains, and muddy ditches to splash through, and woods to make trails in. 

The fact is, we are careful... and we'd rather LIVE our lives with WISDOM, than constantly be afraid of the "what if's" that could happen!

We've realized that right now a dirt bike isn't the toy of practicality for our family... but I assure you, there are a couple others to take it's place! :)

Just Wanna Keep It Real...

It may appear that I just love spending EVERY waking minute with my children.... but, let me clarify that they drive me CRAZY on a regular basis! :)

Just some random pictures over the last week or two that make me smile! :)

The last thing I want to portray is that we (or I!) have it all together. Not. A. Chance.

SO.... yup, yesterday was one of those days that I was counting down the minutes to get out of the house ALONE! I couldn't wait to have a little "drive with the windows down and let my hair fly wildly" moments! I didn't want to answer questions... or point out cows or dogs or geese or planes or bikes... or sing the ABC's... or listen to a children's CD... I simply wanted to sing along as LOUD as I wanted to whatever country song was on the radio!

I gotta say... baby bums are just one of the perks of being a Mommy! So stinkin' adorable! :)

I did... and was refreshed when I walked in the door. The girls were "waiting" for me in their beds before they fell asleep and I was thrilled to have a little needed cuddle time after a long day!

I'd be the first to tell you that I have moments where I overreact, say things I shouldn't, give spankings when maybe a gentle (or stern!) talking to would have worked instead, and have to ask forgiveness of my little girlies. I sometimes give MYSELF a time-out and wonder why in the world God gave ME the job of raising two (soon three!) precious children.... but, we're managing, despite my short comings.

Their little kisses and moments of affection make me, AGAIN, thankful for the age spacing of our children! They are simply gonna be the best buddies around! 

God's grace is sufficient and His grace covers my failures. And for that I am BEYOND thankful!

Photo Faces...

... of a two year old!

If it's not "ch-EEEEEEE-se!" than it's a goofy face of some variety or another!

There wasn't a "normal" picture in the whole batch!

But... ya know, I'm simply blessed to be able to take photos of my girl. It's a privilege I don't want to take for granted!

Tongue stuck out, big eyes, squinty nose... and all! 

Fiddle... Dee Dee

Last weekend we were invited to our friend's place for a bonfire and horse ride... what a delight indeed! 

Due to some drizzles, we ended up sitting on the verandah with yummy grilled hotdogs instead of around the open fire!

And ya know... I think it actually worked out for the better!

I learned (later on!) that a super de-duper active 1 year old around a bonfire makes for one on-edge mama. So... grilled it is, and shall be for awhile! :)

Larren was hardly interested in the carrots, or snow peas, or hot dogs, or chips, or even the rhubarb muffins... she had her eye on ONE thing.

This good ole' boy. And he didn't exactly "feel the love"... so it was an on again, off again relationship through out the evening!

Goodness me... this girl has a thing for puppies... baaa-aaad!

Alia was as happy as can be at the farm... new baby colts, chickens, kittens, and her dream of riding a horse again coming true!

Off they go to meet her ride!

Fiddle needed a little warm up before he had two energetic girls to prance around... so Alia just trotted along behind him... to the tune of her own song. I have no doubt it was of angels singing "Hallelujah" or something similar! She was one happy lark!

The moment Alia had been waiting for...

Poor little Larren wasn't convinced that this was a fair deal!

But she made due... nothing a little mud pie making can't fix.

And when her beloved puppy came along... she had just plain forgotten about her sorrows!

Her chance eventually came... and she too was pleased to be riding up so high!

Though simply petting the "pony" was probably near the top of her dream list! She's a touch and feel sorta girl...

The whole way home Alia kept asking if we could go back and see Fiddle again! Our littlest girl might have puppy fever... but the oldest one sure is itching to be a cowgirl!

Her lady bug rain boots are now referred to as her "cowboy boots"... and her floppy sun hats are now "cowboy hats". She's the real deal folks!

Thanks again Tanya (and Bryan!!)!

You've got two new number one fans! :)

Is Bigger Better?

I think I'm gonna start uploading my pics from another photo site, so that IDEALLY they will be bigger without getting all pixely and weird. We'll give this a go for a little while, and you can let me know what you think.

Let me give you an example!

BIG

little

If bigger is better... we'll stick with it, and if not... adios! :)

The Green Thumb Family

Jon and the girls went on one of their daily four wheeler rides the other night... and came home with a Mother's day present for me (with a little help from Nana B! Thanks so much Betty!).

Alia was determined to keep "it" a secret, so I played along... until I feared the poor thing would start withering after 24 hours of no water... and convinced her to finally let me see her special gift! She was pleased as punch about the flowers... and couldn't wait to help take care of them!

*sigh* I gotta be honest... I'm not known for keeping plants alive very long! My thumb isn't exactly in the "green family"... if ya know what I mean! In my head I think "Come on? How hard can it be?!?!"... but reality sets in and I tend to forget to water them, which is like the one basic necessity they have!! Sad... I know.

But, Alia has been growing the sweetest little tomato and daisy plants over the last couple of weeks... and with her help, our greenery might have a hope after all!

This girl has a memory like a steel trap! Her morning vitamin... she's yet to miss a day! Keep little plants well hydrated... she's on it!

I'm trying my hardest to keep my Mother's day hanging pot alive.... I really am! I'm pruning, I'm making sure it gets lots of sunshine, I'm bringing it inside when it looks like it might get too chilly at night, I'm WATERING...

 and by golly, it WILL make it through the summer... it WILL make it through the summer... it WILL make it through the summer...

if Alia has anything to do with it! :)