Kids Are Smart

This morning, I told Marshall he absolutely could not surf down the stairs inside his slippery sleeping bag.  When I explained the dangers of blindly sliding down the steps to a tile floor below he replied, "Mommy, it is not dangerous to surf the steps inside my sleeping bag! I know this because kids are a little bit smarter than grown ups ya know!"

First Snow

Our first snowflakes of the year are falling this morning and no one is more excited than Marshall!!  We were getting ready to go feed horses and I heard him say, "Hey Nyla! Do you want to help me catch snowflakes in my wagon when we get to the farm?!"

Nyla's Observation

I was putting on make-up in my bathroom when Nyla (now 2 1/2)  walked in and said, "Mommy, did you know I don't have a "PEANUT"?  I replied, "You don't?  Well who does? (thinking we were talking about the Planter's type)"  She went on to explain, "Marshall and Luke and Daddy have a "peanut", but I don't have a "peanut" and you don't have a "peanut" either!  All I could say was, "Nyla, you're absolutely right about that!"

My Little Lady Bug

Nyla was so excited to dress up for her pre-school Halloween party today!!

 

 

 

Harvest Invaders!!

Caught two mice today with my bare hands! I am not kidding. Denver FAILS as a mouse hunter. I led him right to it. He got all excited to catch it but then he picked it up with his soft mouth and proceded to drop it right in front me. It was stunned so I grabbed it by the tail and picked it up. I'm thinking, "GREAT! NOW WHAT??"  I took it outside and let it go. I know...I'm a fool, because that mouse will probably make his way right back in here. In fact, he might even be the same mouse I saved from Scott (who wanted to stomp on it!) and made him release outside earlier today!

Nyla is 2 1/2!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Luke's 8th Birthday Party at Vala's Pumpkin Patch

Gracie and Magic at Colby Creek

Gracie and Magic in fine form over the course at Colby Creek.
 

Happy Is A Little Too Happy!

Happy over-jumps this coop by about 2 feet but somehow, when physics would suggest otherwise (notice heels coming up and out of stirrups), Gemma is able to stick on him!

Yes, she really did stay on!!

Zapped!!

To my horse-loving children,
Today while installing a hay feeder in your pony's pen, I accidentally backed into the electric fence. The wire touched the back of my neck and gave me the ZAP of a lifetime.  As you know, that fence is EXTREMELY strong for such a small area because it needed to contain Hayes when he was a stallion.  I've been shocked by it before but never up high, so close to my BRAIN!!!  I can't begin to explain the sensation and pain of this type of jolt!  So my dear children, when I am old and start losing my memory and you are tempted to make fun of me because I am repeating myself, I want you to remember this incident and how I tirelessly cared for your ponies and how this one incident probably fried half of my brain!

School Picture Day

The big rock in our front island has become the official "School Picture Day" photo spot!  This photo shoot went a lot better than the one school!  Nyla wanted nothing to do with the photographer and Marshall had to be bribed with M&M's to smile! The full shoot is HERE..

Ghosts?

The last several days we've been having a very hard time getting Nyla down for naps and bedtime. She begs and begs to sleep in our bed and cries bloody murder until either I give in or she falls asleep.  A few minutes ago, Nyla (28mo) was on the changing table where she calmly explained to me that there was a girl in her room who was waving at her. Here is word for word what she said:

Nyla:"Mommy there is a girl in my room".
ME: Where?
Nyla: She was over there (pointing to an area next to her dollhouse)
ME: Is she there now?
Nyla: "No, but she scares me. She was waving at me".
ME: When?
Nyla: "When I was in my crib."
ME: Is she happy or sad?
Nyla: "Sad".
ME: Is she ugly or pretty?
Nyla: "Ugly".
ME: Is she mean to you?
Nyla: "No, she's not mean, but she scary to me"
ME: "Does she talk to you?
Nyla: "No, she waves at me". She couldn't help me get out of my crib. She scary to me. When I go to your bed she can't wave at me."

I RAN downstairs to write this down so I wouldn't forget her exact words.  I figure we either have a ghost or a VERY clever and imaginative 2year-old!!  Either way, how can I deny her my bed after hearing THAT?

Update 8/22-5:18pm-While changing another diaper Nyla said, "Mommy, I'm scared of the girl that waves at me. When she goes back to her own house, I can sleep in my crib".  I purposely have made no mention of  "the girl" and in fact tried to talk about other things while in her room to keep her mind off it, but she brought it up a second time.

Gemma and Denver

 

Luke and Denver

 

Water Level At All Time Low But Still Beautiful!

 

Exploring The Farm

Marshall and Nyla love to explore the water's edge! 

Marshall, Nyla and Peanut

 

County Fair

Gemma and Happy equipped and dressed for Western Games at County Fair 

Marshall's First Day Of Preschool!

Breakfast On The Deck

We enjoyed a beautiful morning on the deck with gentle winds and cool temperatures!

The Jungle

On our trip to Wisconsin we often drove through heavily wooded areas, something our Nebraska-born children don't see very often.  As we arrived in Dubuque, Iowa and drove along the river bluffs Nyla said, "Gracie! Are you scared of this JUNGLE? I am so scared in this jungle!"  For the rest of the trip, she referred to all wooded areas as THE JUNGLE and kept a look-out for lions and tigers and bears! Oh my!

 Overlooking the Mississippi River in Dubuque Iowa.

 

Full Moon On The River

Gemma, Marshall and Nyla are enjoying the full moon over the Mississippi river!

On Our Way to Wisconsin!

Gracie is smiling because Nyla FINALLY fell asleep!

Friends Reunited

Gracie and some good friends gathered to visit with Jessie Juergensen, who was visiting Seward after being gone for one year! 

 

Brushing Peanut

Nyla said, "Peanut is my fav-o-wit ho-wus!