Found My Way Back

Finally found my way back.  It has been a long time.  The kids are taller, we are all older, but I am happy to report that we are all still happy and healthy.  Owen started 6th grade this fall (middle school), and Emory started 9th grade this fall (high school!).  Parenting them is the greatest joy and the biggest stressor I have in my life.  I love them to pieces, but this job is hard.  Trying to balance a career, a marriage, motherhood, and friendships is not an easy task.  I imagine if you ask any grandmother, they would probably say the same thing about the time when they were raising their children.  They are worth it!  I love these kids!

A Year's Time

What a year it has been. Emotional journeys, physical journeys. We have moved, we have changed, we have grown, we have created a new life for ourselves. And...we love it! These pictures start with school 09, then Em's 8th birthday, O's 5th birthday, new house, and school August 08 here at the bottom.

My 10th Harvest

As this is the 10th anniversary of my first harvest, I figured I would take some time to reflect on it. It is the most interesting time of the year for us. Josh spends the whole year previous working up to these several weeks. Everything depends on these several weeks. And yet, so much is out of our control. Once he opens up that first field, it is a mad, hectic dash to the finish. A race to get the wheat out as fast as possible with the least amount of moisture and the highest test weights. There are always obstacles that litter the path...breakdowns, long lines at the Coop, not enough drivers for the machines needed...always something. And then there is the weather. You would think that it would be cause for rest after it is finally over, but then it is tiem for the distance races; burning, discing, chisling, planting. No rest for the weary. That is harvest.

As for my small role in this huge process....I am but the cook and child care provider. Along with all the daily chores of the house, playing farm with the 4 year old who is obsessed with harvest, seeing to their needs, I prepare a lunch and dinner for 8 and haul it and the kids to the field. Not super hard...just time consuming. My harvest dream job is to be a wheat truck driver. I would drive, read, drive, read and so on. :) Maybe some day when the kids are bigger and driving things of their own.

Year In Review

My first school year as a librarian...
Who would have thought that I would have liked it so much? I have always really loved teaching. I was so worried that I would lose that connection with the kids that was so important to me. I was worried that I couldn't possibly overcome the nasty, closed-off, old-school reputation the library/librarian used to have. I was worried that I would get bored. I was worried I wouldn't have the same relationship with my colleagues. I was worried that no one would really understand what a teacher/librarian really does.
Lessons learned:
-I did not lose that all important connection. I am as connected as ever. Now I get the chance to really connect with all four classes and not just the sophomores. Yea!
-I managed to change the entire library around. It looks completely different, it feels completely different, and it serves some great, brand new purposes.
-I have never, ever been bored. I have been so much more busy than I ever dreamed. My stellar organizational skills have suffered because I am always being pulled away from what I am doing to help people. It is amazing to me how much more the library has been used just this year alone.
-For the most part the relationships with my co-workers haven't changed. There are a few out there that treat me a little differently, but for the most part that is okay.
-And finally, very few really know what I can do for them. They have never had a librarian that truly is an instructional partner.
Overall, it has been a great year! I love my job. I love reading. I love sharing books with people. Can't wait to make even more changes for next year.

Birthday Catch-Up

Owen turned the big 4 on February 16th this year and Emory turned 7 on April 22nd. She was so excited to be able to open her gifts before school. Owen had and Ast party at Pizza Hut and a Papa 'n Gee party here at the farm. Emory had her first sleep over with Ashlyn. They had a ball and slept in the tent in the livingroom. Oh...the exciting things of childhood.

Santa Rocks in 07!

This Christmas season brought a wonderful elf named Willie Bob into our house. Mom and Dad had to hire Willie to come watch the kids during the days and then fly back up to the North Pole to report to Santa how they had acted that day. Every morning, Willie had a note for the kids. Goodness, the kids were on their best behaviors. We have contracted Willie Bob's services for teh next Christmas season as well. Due to the wonderful reports from Willie, Santa delivered his biggest gifts yet. Overall, Christmas was wonderful; time with family, time relaxing, time sharing in the spirit of the season.

I have a FIRST GRADER?!

Holy Moses...I am the mother of a FIRST GRADER! How does this happen? What happened to my twenties? College fun? Dates? Doing what you want, when you want? Next thing you know....poof....your the mother of a first grader.

(Have you noticed Ruby in the foreground of the picture? She is our special-needs Dachshund.)