Corn Maze

We did this a couple of weeks ago.  I figured I had better post some pictures or I might be hauled a way by CYFD for depriving my children of a childhood!  See!  We do way more than clean!

Yeah, it was hot and nobody wanted to line up!

These were super!  Rubber duck races!

with hand pumps!!

Cow train!

At the start of the maze!

A giant bounce PILLOW!

Go Steve, Go!

Goats ahoy!

I  so want this for my yard!

Caitlyn and I rocked the big maze!

Our "Map"  notice the Mix logo!

So yes, we do more than clean! We have adventures and the kids are happy, despite what they want to tell you about all of the cleaning we make them do!

And how was your day?

News from the Front....

Sunday
Portales, New Mexico
USA

This just in: Meanest Mom in the world conspires with Meanest Dad in the world to force children to help clean up house on a Sunday.


We have just learned that mother of four, Momster, called upon the support of her spouse, Dadster, and have, by use of force, made their four young children work in the house.
Witnesses say that there was yelling, protests from the innocent children, in regards to the mess under beds and behind dressers.
"It wasn't mine!  I didn't do that," said one victim, whose identity has been hidden for security purposes.
"It isn't right that I have to clean up a bedroom I share with someone!  The mess isn't mine!"
More protests were heard from the garage where resistance was even stronger!
"This isn't our stuff, why do we have to clean it!"
"Even God rested on Sunday! Why do we have to do all the work."
The stuff in question seemed to be everything from soccer gear to a multitude of shoes, confirming the rumor that there was no way these four innocent children could possibly be responsible for the wide range of debris.  Two dogs were also implicated, but their fate isn't certain.  They were found hiding in crates and were not available for comment.
The two adults in this altercation had this to say:
"I am tired of playing, "dear-heaven-what-is-that-smell".  These kids live in this house and they need to start making an effort in keeping it up.  I can't do it all on mine own."  This is obviously an attempt to get out of work on her part.  She refused more comments, claiming that she needed to finish scrubbing the floor and ridding the laundry room of, "some strange funk."
The male in the equation had this to say, "This isn't a punishment.  No one is being punished.  This is simply everyone working together to do what needs to be done."
Last seen was a seven year old boy sitting, crying on the floor.  He was being forced to sweep crumbs and dirt into a dust pan.  There is no word of his fate.
Another lingering sight, is of an eight year old boy, cruelly given a separate chore from his twin.  He was too overcome to give a comment.
These photos were reveal the emotions behind this story.  There were taken by an infiltrator with a hidden camera.

Representatives for KAWC, Kids Against Work Coalition were reportedly on their way.  The feeling is strong that these two parents need brought to justice for their crimes against childhood.

We will bring you more from this story as it develops.

"Motherhood: 24/7 on the frontlines of humanity. Are you man enough?" - Maria Shriver


And how was your day?

A little bit f rain

Anyone who follows me knows that I am fussy about weather.  I hate being cold, I hate the wind, I love the rain and I love the fall.  We, on the High Plains, have had a heck of a spring and summer.  Spring brought horrific winds, but no rain.  We have had hay shortages and crispy pastures.  But in the past couple of weeks, we did have some rain. 
One night, as I sat in the cozy comfort of the Shabby Sheep Yarn Shoppe, it started to rain.  We laughed, this couldn't be, we had forgotten what rain was like!  It would sprinkle and then stop.  Honestly, water falling from the sky?  Santa Claus, yes.  Rain, no.
So, when we left the shop, after cookies and crafting, imagine my surprise when I encountered a full fledged High Plains thunderstorm.  Serious rain pelting down, a temperature differential that had to be at least 20 degrees, lightening flashing across the sky and thunder shaking my very bones.  I crawled home, my out of use wipers not even making a clean sweep in the rush of water on the glass.  Lightening, more than headlights, lit my way home.

The sweetest surprise was the next morning.  All of the rain had run off to our northeastern corner of our pasture.  I had, long ago, promised the children that we would play in the mud after the first rain.  We made good on that.

and how was your day?

A Little Bit of Hero in Us All

Not to long ago, in the far off land of New Mexico, we celebrated heroes.  It was the end of a month long drive to find the heroes among us.  It started innocently enough, and easily enough, at least for me.  I sit with Grandpa! Mr. Terry at the church might not think so.  All of my kids act as acolytes.  They love to be the ones to light the candles, to walk proudly in front of the church in the beginning and end of service.  Through service, they sit with Mr. Terry, a very kind and patient gentleman with the silver hair of knowledge.  He is a saint.  Between girl giggles and twins poking each other, he keeps the acolytes calm and focused on their part in worship services.  A steady supply of teddy grahams helps.  On this particular day, since we were wrapping up a summer and a month of heroes, all the acolytes were there, to show their part in the community.  There were fourteen.  Mr. Terry kept calm rein on them, no one burned the church or alter cloth, no one dropped the offer and no one killed any one. 

After service we were treated to a display of hands on learning from the sheriff's department, the police department, the fire department and some fun activities from the church.  There was a cake walk, which is a William favorite, there was face painting and a wonderful game called Holy Hosing.  The children tried to throw a football through a hoop.  If they make it, they get to hose the pastor down with a fire hose.  James and Conner managed to give the pastor a good shower!  Caitlyn did sidewalk chalk drawings and Conner learned the finer points of hand bells.  Grandpa Tom was able to go through the group and I even snapped a great photo of him with the other two former Navy Sea Bees we have in our congregation.  Many, many thanks to the volunteers and servicemen and women who make this day so much fun!

And how was your day?