Having fun in the tractor with Mom

The kids and I are kind of a packaged deal.  Wherever they go, I go and wherever I go, they go.  I guess that is what happens when you're a stay at home mom.  So when it comes to the time of the year when I am out in the field daily, the kids come along with me.  This is fun (and a little crowded) and I know we are making memories that will last a lifetime.

Miss L and I hanging out in the tractor
taking a stretch break

Many people have asked what do the kids do all day out in the tractor?  We read a lot of books, we play with tractors, dolls, stuffed animals, etc.  Each kid has a tractor cinch sack bag that they take out to the field with them that includes their favorite things to play with and a couple snacks, a juice packet and their water bottle.

Miss R's "First Harvest" photo

One thing I have done every fall, for the last five years, is that for their "First Harvest" I take a photo of them on top of my tractor wheel; it's turned into a tradition.  I shared Miss R's photo in my Harvest Happenings post yesterday and it made me walk down memory lane and check out all four kids "First Harvest" photos.  I couldn't resist sharing them with you too :)

Can you tell they're siblings?  Who do you think looks the most alike?  Remember to Comment for a Cause!

Falling out of Summer

I don't know about you, but I'm loving this time of year!  The busyness of summer has ended and at the same time, the harvest pace of fall hasn't begun.  It is the perfect few weeks to just stop, relax and reflect.  One thing I got to thinking about this week was our family's Summer Bucket List we made at the beginning of the summer.  So with a few weeks left before our family gets into harvest mode, let's check out to see how we did!

1. Go Camping at Beed's Lake or Pine Lake - We didn't get this accomplished but we did do a lot of backyard camping.  So I'm calling this one half-way done!
2. Host a Baconfest on our farm - This didn't happen and won't be happening.  I guess we'll just have to go to area Baconfests this winter to make up for it :)
3. Check out RAGBRAI Bicyclists as they come through North Iowa - We didn't do this either!  We saw RAGBRAI support teams but decided to stay away from as much RAGBRAI traffic as we could.
4. Have fun at a Surf Ballroom Rock "n" Tots lesson - We not only had fun at one Rock "n" Tots class but the entire summer's worth of classes.  This was a great program that we look forward to participating in again next year!

   

   LP channeling his inner Buddy Holly
   while playing his rubber band guitar
   on stage at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake

5. Watch one of the Fireworks Shows during the Pyrotechnics Guild International (PGI) convention - We had good intentions to go up and watch a show but never made it!  Next year!
6. Go to an Iowa Cubs Baseball Game - We didn't get this accomplished either!  Maybe I shouldn't have looked at our bucket list...
7. Shop the Des Moines Farmer's Market - I got to do this with my Mom and one of my sisters earlier this summer!  I enjoyed everything from my breakfast burrito, to picking up some salsa, to purchasing some cute clothes and toys for the kids.  The Des Moines Farmer's Market really does have a bit of everything!
8. Visit a Science Center or Children's Museum - I am happy to say that we have gone on a couple two-day getaways this summer and one was to Des Moines a couple weeks ago.  We visited the Iowa State Fair, the Blank Park Zoo and the Science Center of Iowa.  The entire family had a great time!  There were so many hands-on activities at the Science Center.  We will definitely be back and will be sure to check out more science centers on our travels.

   

   LP testing his Lego car at the
   Science Center of Iowa

9. Go on an Iowa Ice Cream Trip - Throughout June's Dairy Month we traveled to an Iowa ice cream destination weekly.  We had a lot of fun visiting Decorah's Whippy Dip, Hudson's Hansen Dairy, LeMars's Blue Bunny, and Mason City's Birdsall's.  I think we might just have to do this again next year! 

   

   MP enjoying her own ice cream cone at Blue Bunny in LeMars

10. Continue our Tradition of going on a Family Vacation - And this is going to be happening soon!  We are excited to get away for a few days in South Dakota.  I'll be sure to post about our trip afterwards!

So, we didn't do as well as I thought we did, but nonetheless, we've had a great, fun-filled summer.  Did you make a Summer Bucket List?  How did you do?  Remember to Comment for a Cause!

Wordless Wednesday - Happy Birthday My Farmer!

Happy Birthday to a great husband, father, best friend and farmer!  I'm excited to celebrate tonight with birthday supper (his choice tonight - Greek Steak and Spaghetti) and birthday cake and ice cream.  What are some of your birthday traditions?

Happy May Day!

LP ready to deliver May Day baskets this morning

Happy May Day from our family to you!

This year our May Day baskets are cups of Teddy Grahams with a muffin liner flower and note attached.  Pretty simple besides that LP wanted to keep the Teddy Grahams for himself...  May Day baskets are a fun family tradition!

Easter Traditions - Creating Memories!

Happy Good Friday!  I'm looking forward to Easter this weekend to not only celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and to spend time with family, but to also continue traditions and start new ones with my family.  I thought I'd share a few of our Easter traditions with all of you!

• Make Easter Cards for Family Members - So, anyone that knows me well, knows I'm a little bit of a card junkie.  I don't know what it is, but I love sending cards to loved ones.  Now that LP is getting older he has been helping me make cards.  This year we made egg shaped, shaving cream marbled, cards.  For anyone who hasn't marbled paper using the shaving cream method before, you'll have to give it a try - it is easy and creates beautiful patterns and colors!

LP checking out a couple baby chicks

• Visit Baby Chicks, Ducks and Turkeys - This year LP and I went to our local feed store and visited all the baby chicks, ducks and turkeys that they got in this week.  I never did this growing up but decided to start this tradition based off a recommendation from our children's librarian.  LP had a great time checking all of them out!

• New Easter Outfits - Easter is an excuse for me to not only find some new church clothes for LP, but for My Farmer and I too.  This year I bought LP a new polo shirt, My Farmer a new shirt and me a new dress.  (Don't tell anyone but I decided to wear my new dress last night to Maundy Thursday service instead of Easter Sunday - I guess I was too excited to wear it!)  Growing up, my sisters and I got new Easter dresses quite often, so I guess this is why I continue to do this tradition.  Did you know that this tradition actually started a long-time ago?  Early Christians sometimes wore the same clothes throughout Lent.  This was an exercise in self-denial and spiritual discipline used to help Christians focus on the suffering and sacrifice of Jesus.  The period of abstaining from changing clothing ended on Easter Day, when everyone would don new apparel for their Easter celebration.

• Easter Lily Memorial at Church - Every year through our church, my Farmer and I buy an Easter Lily plant, which then is displayed at church starting on Easter Sunday morning and for a couple weeks following.  You can denote your lily as a memorial or honor towards someone, which we have usually made ours a memorial to loved ones who have passed away.  This year we decided to make ours in "Celebration of the Resurrection."

LP with his Easter Basket last yar

• Easter Basket - I love putting together an Easter basket with a couple things in it for LP.  This year he is getting candy, sidewalk chalk, a train car and a new Easter story book.  One of my Mom's cousin's also made him a cute Easter basket out of an old milk jug last year that I put everything in.  We always go to Sunrise Service at church, followed by the Youth Group Easter Breakfast and then come home to get ready for Easter Dinner.  LP gets his Easter basket after church and before dinner preparations.

• Read the Easter Story - Growing up my Grandma would read the Easter story to all my cousins, sisters and I before we went on our Easter Egg Hunt at my grandparent's house.  Now, I have started reading the Easter story to LP on the night before Easter.  The children's story book I have been using for LP so far has been The Easter Story, by Patricia A. Pingry.  I like how my Grandma read the Easter story to all of us before our hunt, so I think this year before our hunt I'll share the story of Easter by making Resurrection Rolls.

• Resurrection Rolls - Last year was the first time I had heard of these, through the wonderful world of Pinterest, and I'm excited that this year LP might be old enough to enjoy doing them (or at least LP and his older cousin).  If you haven't heard of these, it is a great way to share the Easter story through food.

My niece and LP at last year's Easter Egg Hunt
(This year is going to have to be inside the shop though,
it'll be too wet to have it outside)

• Easter Egg Hunt - This year I'm hosting an Easter Egg Hunt. for a second year, for LP and his older cousin on Easter Sunday afternoon.  I carry on a similar Easter Egg Hunt tradition that my Grandma did for my cousins, sisters and I growing up.  The kids search for plastic eggs that have bible verses, special messages - such as give your Dad a hug or spin in a circle three times, and of course prize eggs.  About a third of the eggs are prize eggs, a third have interactive messages in them and a third have bible verses in them.  My Mom helped me put the hunt together last year and helped me out already for this year's hunt too.  (If you're looking for an Easter Egg Hunt to do for slightly older children, check out this hunt from iMom.  It has the kids find puzzle pieces that tell the Easter Story.)

• Deviled Eggs - Of course food is a big part of any tradition right?  Well for me, I feel like you can't have Easter Dinner without Deviled Eggs.  For something fun and different, I'm going to try dying my deviled eggs!

What are some of your favorite Easter traditions or memories?  Join the conversation on the Corn, Beans, Pigs and Kids facebook page!

Christmas Update

Wow!  I have not been good about blogging since Thanksgiving!  I guess, just like all of you, I've gotten busy with getting ready for Christmas, going to Christmas parties, directing our Children's Christmas program at church, etc.  Plus we've been busy with things for my sister-in-law's wedding that is at the end of the month.  I know I don't have to explain being busy during December.  December always seems to be a busy month.

To brighten your day, I thought I'd share some of our Christmas card photo out-takes from this year.  For the last four years since My Farmer and I got married, we've taken a Christmas Card photo in front of our west wind break using the self-timer on my camera every year.  It is one of our Christmas traditions.  Here's a look at this year's Christmas card photo:

Looks like our dog Bailey would rather look at us than the camera.
(This seems hard to explain to her every year...
Bailey you have to look at that random camera on tri-pod in the middle of the yard, not us.)

This ones great, both LP and Bailey are not wanting to look at the camera.

LP and Bailey talking to each other - "Hey Bailey, how are you doing?"

It's not just our dog Bailey and LP that make a photo not a keeper.
Not sure how both My Farmer's and my eyes were both closed on the same photo?

And the winner!
Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

Happy May Day

Happy May Day from my family to yours!  I always remember making May Day baskets with my sisters and Mom when I was growing up for the neighbor kids (which meant we drove around a five mile radius to deliver them).  We would hop in the car, drop them off, knock on the door and run to the car before anyone could catch us, that way we wouldn't have to be kissed by any of them!  Since LP is kind of old enough to do it this year, we made May Day baskets for three of our neighbor kids.  We also helped make May Day baskets for shut-ins and members of our church in nursing homes in Sunday School this past Sunday.  Making the May Day baskets was a fun thing to do for our neighbors and members of our church.  If anything results from them, I hope it at least makes everyone smile.

By the way, no kissing occurred during the delivery of the May Day baskets!