A Moonlight Hay Rack Ride

Twas the night before the Four Sisters Farm Family Fall Party and all through the house all the creatures were stirring...

At midnight Grammy was finishing flower arrangements.
Pretty Princess was cutting the cheese.I was trying my hand at pumpkin cream cheese muffins.This is what they are supposed to look like...Not this...Gift bags, check! Fall decor, check!

The Men, what were they doing? Building a hay rack ride. This is Romeo, Pop and EJ at midnight. Pop was determined to get it done!
Victory!

Around 12:30am Pop, Romeo and EJ invited Grammy, Pretty Princess and I on a hay rack ride. We couldn't say no. We dropped our flowers and food and grabbed our coats. It was beautiful! That moonlight hay rack ride put everything in perspective. The pre-party work would get done and the result would be fabulous memories to last a lifetime!

Trail Running is not your fathers road running...

In August my cousins MoMo and BTY said hey we're going to run a half marathon and they thought I should run with them. Historically, in my family, I am the runner, but MoMo has been running more lately. Well, I gave a very political answer of some sort giving no assurances then. However on Monday the 19th of this month BTY texts me and says...

"I'm going to go ahead and register for the race this Saturday...do you want me to sign you up as well?"

Realizing that he and MoMo have been training and I have not (only 1 mile during the week days and 3 each weekend day isn't training in my book), I texted back an answer of:

"actually I found out that I can't because of a wedding of my wife's in Topeka..."

I thought great, I'm out of town at a wedding, this I'll be able to get out of...then it hits me...the race is in TOPEKA! Great, now the excuse has much less credit. So he fires back:

"That's fine...you'll be missed. Just remember that all the "hiding behind your wife's skirt" banter is free game for the next time we get together."

Ok, if you're a guy, you now know that I am for sure running, no matter what happens. I can't let him challenge my manhood like that! There's no pain like the loss of a manly defeat because you were acting "girly." That just won't cut it!

So Monday I ran 4 miles, Tuesday I ran 6, Wednesday 6 again, Thursday 4, and Friday I rested.

Well, this race was a "heavy half marathon." I was at first insulted thinking that they were saying that we were running the half marathon, but in the "heavy" classification...how rude! No EJ, it's just the length, it's 14.2 miles...oh yeah like that's better, now instead of 13.1 miles it's 1.1 miles longer. I think that I'd rather be called heavy!

I have run 2 marathons before and several 10 mile races and an abundance of other shorter road races and XC races in school and after. However I didn't quite understand what this race was all about until I ran it. Think of a hiking trail in the mountains that's in a forest with really only 1 person wide, extreme up hill, and down hill; covered in leaves to make sure you don't know where all the jagged rocks are that are covering the trail. All the while making sure that you don't hit your head on the limbs that have fallen across the path that could take your head out. Ignorance is bliss!

This is the hoodie that you got for registering. Great quote.






Here is the guys that are going to run...you have MoMo's step-father-in-law at the far left, BTY, myself, and then MoMo. Oh yeah, by the way, MoMo got the piggy flu supposedly and couldn't run. But he was a great support and even was out on the course cheering us along and even ran with us for a while (mile or two). Thanks MoMo. MoMo's step-father-in-law was running the 50K...he's a REAL MAN! WOW!
They had us run up a huge hill at the start to thin us out before we would go into the 1 person wide trail. There's myself and BTY in the gray shirts and white hats. I know ladies, we match, aren't we cute! We planned it! Okay, no we didn't, but it sounded good.

Here we are on the trail running. BTY and I pretty much ran together the whole way keeping each other going. Great encouragement! Thanks BTY!

Here I am by myself. Already completely sweat thru!

There were 3 aid stations with all sorts of things to get you going. Heed drink (kind of like Gatorade), Heed gel (kind of like Gu), H2O, Coke, hard candies, burritos, rice crispy treats, etc...I know I know, that's kind of weird! But I didn't eat all that or drink all of that! Just the gel and some water and Heed drink.

Here I am finishing!

After the finish you have all the family. MoMo and his kids and wife, then BTY, his wife and kids and then me.

Here's BTY's wife and some of the kids and their signs!

Okay, so the office talks of the next subject.

Andy Bernard:

[taping his nipples] "I'm petrified of nipple chaffing. Once it starts it is a vicious circle... you have sensitive nipples, they chaff, so they become more sensitive, so they chaff more. So I take precautions."

I know all about this, however, I DID NOT take precautions! Here I am, you may not be able to see very well because of the gray color, but that shirt has two blood spots. OUCH! Lets just say the shower was full of screams! NOT FUN. Nip guards here I come!

So MoMo and BTY and I will run the Turkey trot 10 miler the week before Thanksgiving and then, I might have BTY convinced to run the OKC Memorial marathon next April. We'll see!

Yes, sweet one, I will pray for you

Recently I was enjoying a quiet night with just the boys. Pop and Grammy were at a football game and EJ was on his way to run in a half marathon (more on that later). As I got them ready for bed I noticed that Bubba's voice was sounding pretty rough. I told him to drink lots of water and we would get out some of Grammy's medicine (honey) to help his throat feel better.

He thought that was a good idea and happily complied. Sitting up on the kitchen counter he looked at me and said, "Mom, would you pray for me and ask Father God to protect me and fix my throat?"

Be still my heart.

I called Wubba over and we all held hands. We prayed and talked to our God. We asked him to heal Bubba's throat and to protect our family.

We have so much to teach them in these early years. I have to stop in these moments and be still. We need to focus on the really important things. Like teaching our children to call on the Almighty Name of God in every situation. He is the one with all the answers. He formed these precious ones in the womb. He knows every hair on their heads. He knows the plans He has for them. He will answer them when they call.


Jeremiah 33:3 'Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.'

Thank you, Father.

Like Father Like Son

EJ - in the 80sBubba - 2009

Working at it...

For Lou Lou...

Dear Lou Lou,

I'm sorry I ran from you on Saturday. I was still kind of scared of people. I have been getting lots of love from Aunt Farm Chick, Uncle EJ & Grammy. Next time you come I will try to be more friendly.

Love,
Spitty Kitty

Blessings...

Baby sister is getting married and sister Rock Star is having a baby. Life is good and full of blessings.

Apples...

B: Momma, do you know what Pop saes?
Mommy: (thinking oh my heavens, what did Pop say? This is going to be good) What does Pop say?
B: He saes, "You like apples?"
Mommy: Does Pop say, "How do you like them apples?"
B: Laughing - Yes, Mom! That's what Pop saes!

I'm Pumped!

The Office is on tonight. Jim and Pam get married. It's an hour special. Yipppeee!

20 & 30

I was 10 when Pretty Princess was born. Can you imagine how much I loved toting that baby around? I have uber maternal instincts and I was pretty sure she was mine. Grammy was always sweet to let me help "mother" our little baby. She is all grown up now and I get to enjoy her as my peer. This fall I turned 30 and Pretty Princess turned 20.



I had a wonderful 30th birthday. Filled with family and friends. The night before some of the goddesses dropped by to give me these tasty chocolates. They were beautiful and delicious!

The next morning, Grammy made tasty birthday waffles! Hey, there are some major benefits to living with your Momma. The boys sure enjoyed them too!

Then, my sisters kept showing up bearing gifts. Thank you Ladies! You made my 30th extra special with your presence!

Then it was on to dinner at PF Changs with EJ's folks. Oh Changys how I love you! We had lots of good fun!

I will have to do a post later about my birthday present from my hubby...a weekend of clothes shopping...just for me. It was awesome!

Pretty Princess came to the farm for a good old fashioned family party. We ate Grammy's lasagna, salad and bread sticks followed by the ever tasty funfetti cake with rainbow chip icing. It was so good!

Look at all those candles! Pretty Princess had to warm her hands over the fire.
Romeo and Pretty Princess showing us how to party!

Momma, do I look like Pop?