Mikey Likes It

 "I don't want them, Mom."

"Okay, I'll try them if you take a picture of me while I do it..."

 "I like peas!"

Little turkey.

Abigail "O'Morrow" Turns NINE

Abby had her Irish-themed birthday again this year!  What a LUCKY girl to be born so closely to St. Patty's Day!  The kids and I were able to be there with our green on, while Daddy was "green with envy" in Spokane taking his track athletes to their first meet of the season.

The Irish Blessing before the meal...

The Parent Trap!  Her favorite movie!

She'd made G'ma Joan a list of her favorite things and we were all surprised to see this classic on her list--of course it's been remade, recently, but G'ma got her both DVD's!

Little Miss Millie was the little green magnet of the night. I'm the older sister, so I'm allowed to say it:  she looks JUST like my brother!  I always knew he'd make a cute girl.

 The O'Morrows were going to be gone the following weekend at a soccer tournament in Canada, so they were going to miss Joshy's birthday party.  BUT, Abby was so sweet to let Joshy open a present from them on HER birthday.  Madagascar movies!!!  They know the way to this boy's heart!  And the Underpants Zoo book--an instant hit!

 Love this picture of blocking out the sister during candle time...

Green jello cake!  This brought back such great memories--our school cafeteria made the BEST jello cake in the world!  Make a wish, Abby!

 The O'Morrow family

And the Millie Caroline girl...she got to come back to the farm and spend a night with us!

True Siblings

Playtime with these two is either right as rain or a burr under their saddles.  This was a right-as-rain moment.

Papa Greg's Back Surgery

As we were praying for Papa, the night before his surgery:  "God bless Papa as he has surgery tomorrow...guide the surgeon's hands and give us courage and peace....and healing for Papa..."  Joshy interruption:  "...and help me get my backpack back!"  I guess two-year-olds think CRISIS is when they leave their Toy Story guys-es in their backpack at the farm.  He knew that surgery day was the day I'd be able to bring it back to Spokane...not worried at all about Papa's "simple" surgery!

Papa Greg had his 2nd back surgery this past Monday, March 11.  I was able to head down to spend the day with Mom and all his family supporters, and the kids went to G'ma Dianne's for the day.

Dad did a great job--in the 8-hour surgery they re-fused L3, L4, and L5, fused S1 right under it, and cleaned out L1, and L2, so that he could have more wiggle room for those pinched nerves.  No more leg pain!

He got to go home on Wednesday, and now he's recuperating with his 24-hour-Nurse, Joan.  Lucky her!  :)

The highlights of the surgery day were...getting to see KT and Ben (and eat Ranch Burgers for lunch!)...G'ma Trudy and Papa LeRoy visiting during surgery...Uncle Tom and Aunt Diane stopping by after Tom's chemotherapy...hearing the funny things Dad said as he was coming out of anesthesia...thinking up "BACK" songs with Jerry and Sheyanna...

...and this arrangement of fridge letters arranged upon my arrival home that night:  I guess we'd all been thinking about the spine today!

Dr. Seuss Week

               Thing One--KAI                                        Thing Two--JOSH

These two crack me up!  Yes, Josh and Kai, your mothers once dressed you alike and thought it was the cutest THING!

Gracie had a fun week at preschool with Dr. Seuss activities--and she was so excited to have HER VERSION of "Green Eggs" and "Ham"--cottage cheese dyed green and green apple butter in a sandwich.  It was actually green eggs and JAM.  :)  When her teacher told me that the snack was coming later in the week, I was concerned that she'd feel different b/c she couldn't have the real eggs and ham snack made at school, but she just wrinkled up her nose, said she didn't care for those foods, and..."What can we bring, Mom?"  What a relief to see she's made of more confident, tougher, stuff!

Home is Where Mom Hangs Your Pictures

I'm just loving my mantle lately...the mirror has inspired me to decorate...and the birthday supplied a few more treasures!  Thanks, KT and Mom and Jeff!

Determination

The bird squirrel feeders have been a huge entertainment this spring...

Carhartt (Tough) Love

Joshy wanted to match Oden when he saw that Oden had on his Carhartts.

Then he asked me to take a picture.

 Oops.  A little too close.  Oden is going to be quite a tough kid being around Joshy.

All better.

Reading with Dad

"When we were drinking our milk, Daddy started reading Caillou to us and it was fun."  -Gracie, age 4 and 5/6ths

Happy Birthday, Janie!

Janie had her SIXTH birthday party at a gymnastics studio!  We had such a great time jumping, climbing, and swinging at her party!

 Look at this darling birthday girl in her gymnastics outfit...

Happy birthday, sweet Janers!  We love you and can't believe you're SIX already!!!

When Farmers Sleep...

Is this the Wheat Fairy?

At least she's wearing her John Deere uniform!

Backwards Sweatshirts

 It's the latest craze.

O-Diggity Days

Yes, that's a wine cork in his mouth.  Training Lochheads young...

He found the garbage last week.  His favorites at our house are:  the knob on the bottom of the toilet, the couch table with the glass bead garland, and my tall iron candle stick holders by the fireplace.  He crawls like lightning when they're in his sights!