The Rest Of The Story 10.25.10

I am so sorry it has taken me so long to finish this story.  Apparently there have been many more of these types of days since I last posted.  Well, here goes with "The Rest of the Story".

Stephen in his study hole in our closet.

Where were we???  Oh, yes, the cows were out...Thankfully they were only out of their small paddock and not out of the entire pasture on the road.  I didn't know exactly what to do or where to get started, so I just started taking up old fence and putting it up in a new spot where they were to move to next.  The cows are so used to moving and coming when we call, that they just sort of stayed right around me as the kids and I worked.  It is so great having so many wonderful helpers.  We move fence all the time as a family, so it is not something new for the kids.  In fact they (the kids) are very familiar with the idea and actually understand the vocabulary we use when discussing plans and such.  They look forward to their tasks and love to help out when moving cows.  On a side note...the other day as the kids were playing, I overheard Bella saying to... Millie I think, "Oh, watch out Meesa (thats what the kids call Millie) you are almost backing up into my paddock (which I assume was her personal space- and if you know Bella, she needs things just right and doesn't like things interfering with her plans or space).  I thought that was so cute for her to use farm terminology in her every day language.

One of the dump truck loads of gravel Mr. Herzog had delivered in our driveway one day as they were working close by.

Anyway, back to the story...We were happily and efficiently putting up the posts and electric wire, trying to dodge thorn bushes, keep James from crawling on top of the little red truck, stick Lydia's pacifier back into her mouth when she cranked, and continually encourage the kids to keep doing a great job and apologize for forgetting to bring a drink of water.  In the mean time Stephen called to check on us and I tried to briefly let him know how things were going, hoping that the more details I left out the less worried he would be.  He ended up asking just the right questions and found everything out.  I assured him that thing were going just fine and that we could finish.  He said he needed a break anyway and would come out and help us finish up.  All the cows seemed to know just where they were supposed to go and all went into their new paddock quite well.  We got the solar panel charger hooked back up and charging again and headed back to the house.

Check out James's fat little belly- to cute!

Now all I had left to do was move and feed the chickens, pen Ellie (our milk cow's calf), straighten up outside, make supper, and bathe the kids and it is something like 5:30 pm.  I know that moving the chickens will take about an hour, making supper will take about an hour, straightening up won't take to long especially if I just direct the kids, and bathing won't take to long either.  But mixed in-between all that I need to nurse Lydia a time or 2, get the kids a drink at least, and try to convince them that they can wait until supper to eat since I really don't have much time to make them a snack right now.  I distract them from their hunger (after all, we did have smoothies not to long ago), and put them to work helping me with feeding and moving the chickens.  They look for eggs as I start gathering up poultry netting.  Jacob, our dog, is having a hay day as all the chickens are now roaming free since I am in the process of taking up the fence.  I try to keep him from terrorizing the hens while picking up the rather bulky and awkward poultry netting.  Stephen hears all the commotion and sees the goings on and decides to take another break (even though it had only been a few short minutes since his last brake).  Poor guy.  He is so sweet though, to come to my aid again.  We got the net picked up, the hoop structure moved, feeders back in place, chickens some what contained, fence put up,  automatic waterer moved and... ta-da, the chicken project can now be checked off my to do list!

The 2 piles of dirt or gravel, have been a huge blessing.  It keeps the kids occupied for hours outside.

Since it is getting late, Stephen decides he will try to go to bed early and get up early in the morning to start studying.  I am wondering what early is for going to bed and am now thinking I may not even have time to cook him chicken fried steak for supper.  He assures me he is not hungry since he has been eating on the snacks I sent him that morning and is still full from the smoothie we brought him before we moved cows.  Oops, I think I forgot to mention earlier that we brought him a smoothie.  Anyway...he sees the bewildered look on my face that I am trying not to show.  I try to encourage him in that direction- getting to bed early that is- and really wish I could to.  Bella asks Papa "Will you make a puzzle with me"? and he lovingly complies.  Martin, Millie and Elaina want to wrestle with him and James just wants to be held by him.  He plays with the kids for a few minutes while I feed the baby, then he heads off to bed.  Now a new challenge arises...being quiet.  That is much harder than it sounds.  You see, the front and back door are usually revolving, and questions are usually flying around at at-least 5 or 6 per minute not to mention that they are all still hungry and dirty.  Now that Lydia is content, I try to re figure out what to have for supper.  I decide on hamburger meat, macaroni noodles, and taco seasoning and hope it turns out well.  

This is Stephen with the rest of us just before he headed to the farm to study one day.

I try to keep the kids outside and encourage them to put all their toys away to make Papa proud.  Bella is my supper helper and is dying to help me with something.  I know she loves washing dishes, so I put her in charge of that task reminding her constantly to wash them quietly.  It is getting dark sooner now, and since we got such a late start on supper, it is not quite ready by the time the kids are done cleaning up outside and ready to be inside.  I leave Bella in charge of the kitchen, Lydia in her bouncer on the table, send Martin, Millie, Elaina and James upstairs and instruct the girls to go to the bathroom and get ready for baths and the boys to go into their room and play quietly while I bathe the girls.  I get the kids in and out fairly quickly and we head back downstairs for supper.  Bella ends up not getting a bath, but that's ok, because she is the only child (besides Lydia) that is not dirty.  She keeps things going quite well int he kitchen while I am gone bathing the rest of the children.  I dish up on paper plates (so I don't have to do dishes later) we all sit down at the supper table, Martin prays, and we all eat.  The kids don't seem to mind the hodge-podge supper which I am extremely grateful for!  We finish up, quietly gather their small comfort blankets and head upstairs.  I visit with them for just a few minutes, kiss them good night, tuck them in and head back downstairs.  I usually play the piano for them as they are going to sleep, but wasn't be able to because Papa was already asleep and I didn't want to wake him.  They are disappointed, but understanding.  I put the left over supper in a tupperware, decide to forgo the straightening up of the downstairs, just barely remember to put the clothes from the washer to the dryer, nurse Lydia one last time and head to bed myself.

Sweet Lydia sleeping soundly.

It has been another exhausting, fun, challenging, productive, exciting, long day.  I am extremely grateful to the Lord that I get to live out my dream of being a mama and am so blessed to have the wonderful husband and precious children that I do.