Just a normal day......

After coming home, I noticed a package on my door.  

Love the FedEx lady.  This is not the first time she's done this, but I love it.  You would NEVER have found this in the last town we lived in.  This is probably the 3rd time she's left Zoey dog biscuits.

Small town hospitality!

We all took a good nap.  Our new nap routine seems to be working.  We're putting the kids down at 1 instead of 2.  They get the sleep when they need it, but we still get a break.  

Mom had to go to Wichita so she couldn't help me with the kids.

So instead we played downstairs, watched the rain move in, and ate macaroni and cheese for dinner. 

I really try not to cook mac n cheese that much for the kids.  Just would rather them learn to eat something else.....or starve!  Ha!

All of the sudden Macey starts yelling, "Uh Oh"  repeatedly at the table. 

I walk over to see what was going on and............

That's right.  Noodle to the noggin'.  Guess where Zoey's favorite place to stand during meal times is???

So of course she got to eat it.   After all, who else was going to eat it with dog fur on it??!!


And just thought this was interesting.  My kids have played outside so much these last few days, EVERYTIME they take a bath, there is a ring around my tub afterwards.

This picture does NOT do it justice.  And I've done more laundry in the last week than I normally do in 2 weeks!

Oh well.  Dirty kids are usually happy kids!

SKUNK!

As I went out to walk Zoey this morning, I saw a small black and white thing across the street in Mr. Ben's yard.  

Yep, Skunk was on the prowl for food.

Here's the short version of what happened.

Ran inside to get Chad.  Told him to get gun.  Got big gun with Josh squealing in the background.  Saw city guy.  Hid gun.  Mommy kept track of skunk.  City guy said take care of it.  Mommy worried about shooting it not on our property.  Daddy took trap over.  Threw tuna at skunk and whistled.  Skunk ran.  Mommy tracked skunk while Daddy got gun.  Daddy tracked skunk while Mommy got permission from Mr. Ben to shoot on his property.  Daddy lost skunk.  

All the while, our son is squealing at the top of his lungs on the front porch.....

in his pajamas.....

in his dress shoes......

with his Nerf gun.......

REALLY?  Best lookin' hunter I've ever seen!

Side Note: this was an answer to prayer.  I know what you're thinking.  How is seeing a skunk an answer to prayer?  We had asked God for help with the skunk the night before during evening prayers.  (Chad thought it might have migrated, but I wanted proof!)   

I'm really trying to teach Josh about prayer.  I'm trying to teach him 2 things-that we pray to God to thank him and that we pray to ask God for his help.  He's really good at praying for thankfulness and I take opportunities like this to teach him to pray for help.  I'm fully aware that some people might think that praying for help with a skunk might been seen in a poor light, but I am ADAMANT that God is big enough to handle both the big things (cancer, peace, etc.) but also the little things.  Faith of a child........

Inmate #3

And Inmate #3 is......

Another stupid cat.

A guy from the city came to mark our utilities so we could plant our other tree and he told us that he lives in the city and has caught numerous raccoons, skunks, and opossums.  

He's a bow hunter.  Nuff said.

Fishin' at the Farm

Memorial Day, we took the opportunity to spend more family time together.

"Making Memories".......remember?

Yep, we finished planting the tree.

I think Josh loved planting the tree the most.  It gave him an excuse to get dirty, muddy, and just plan have good 'ol boy fun!

Macey still didn't help.  And that's okay.  At least she kept herself busy by sliding.

And here is our Northern Oak.  

That poor tree in this wind.  I think we had wind gusts of up to and above 40 MPH yesterday.  Oh well.  Welcome to Kansas.

Then we went to the farm for fishing.  

Josh was WAY pumped.  Macey was just happy to be included.

Josh sat right down.  Notice how he has a play gun.  I was assured it can't and won't shoot.  

He was going to do some real redneck fishing.  He just thought he'd shoot the fish.  

When we got there, Uncle Ross was 'playing' with Bullet (the dog) in the pond.  I'm not sure if Uncle Ross was training him or just trying to scare the fish our way.  But whatever he was doing, it was fun to watch.

I like this picture.  It looks like Uncle Ross is telling Bullet, "Stay ABOVE the water!!!"

Macey wasn't ever too into the fishing thing.  She was more into the juice thing.  

At our house, the kids drink water or milk.  Chocolate milk only once a day and only for Josh.  I know it sounds harsh and like a lot of rules, but the kids are super fine with it and it puts less sugar on their teeth.

And then when they do get something 'special', it's REALLY special.  

Daddy caught a fish and Macey wants NOTHING to do with it.  

She's going thru somekind of a 'scared of everything' phase.  Weird.

I think even Dad thought the fish was yucky, but Nana is lovin' it!

Here is Josh reeling in his fish Papa Gary's fish.

I think Josh had the most fun playing with the worms.  He carried a worm in his hands most of the time.  (After he figured out where the worm bucket was.)

I still remember digging through cow manure with mom and Grandpa Woody to find worms.  What we were doing with them, I don't know.  But I sure remember it!

Here's Josh on the back of the Polaris.  It used to be a Gator, but Papa upgraded.  

Caught another fish.  These fish were only 6-10 inches long.  Very baby looking.  We threw them all back.  

Josh didn't want to throw them back.  I'm not sure what he wanted to do with them, but he was NOT happy.

Josh went off to explore with Nana, but would run back when someone would catch a fish.

We had a false alarm once before, but Papa secretly reeled this one to shore, then softly tossed the line back in the water so Josh could reel it in.  What a good Papa.

 This fish didn't want to give Papa back his hook.  

Even though we threw this fish back too, it ended up playing opossum.  

That's okay.  Josh took the opportunity to throw dirt 'clops' at it.  I was okay with that because it was teaching him to aim!  

My, oh my.  How far this Mama has come!!!!

On the way back to the house, Josh got to ride in the back with Daddy. 

On the way back, we saw some cow.  Or "Moo-Moos" as I call them.

Macey was SUPPPPERRRRR scared of the cows.  I have to admit.  I was even a little uneasy around this one.  It reminded me of a scary clown.  And from her point of view, they are big, dark colored, and skittish.  I would be scared too.

This is their new dog, Roxy.  She is FULL of energy.  And wants to be a lap dog.

After fishing, we had worked up a great, big appetite.  So we roasted weenies.

Ray knew he had to stay away, so he took shade in "the forest."  He is such a good dog.  

Chad and I agreed that this was probably the kids' favorite meal.  Weenies, chips, and then smores for dessert.  Um.....yes please!!!

And before we left, of course we had to swing.

And, then on the way home, it was WAAAAYYYYYYY obvious the kids had a ton of sugar.  

They were loud and it was a small car that seemed to be shrinking every minute.

Daddy got pegged in the head by a paper airplane from the backseat.  Um.....

And then the kids were just giggling to each other from the backseat.  

As loud as it was, it was really great to hear them getting along and laughing.  

Pure Joy.

Plagues....

Remember all the plagues in the Bible?

I feel like I'm in the middle of them.

First there was the plague of the wasps.  They were all around our house.  They were on the back patio while the kids tried to play.  They built a nest in my bird house on the front porch.  This plague has gotten slightly better.

Then there was the plague of the ants.  I found ants crawling in my pantry floor.  Thoroughly cleaned the pantry with vinegar water and thought I got rid of them after spraying too.  Nope.  They just moved out into the open, the brave little suckers.  Still got 'em.  Working on getting rid of them now.

Next came the plague of the skunk.  You know all about that drama and it's still continuing.  The other day as I was coming home from Mom's house, he was brazen enough to tramp right across our front yard!  I swear as he walked with his swagger, he flipped me off with his tail.  So the kids and I were still in the car and got this picture. 

Now we're onto the plague of the COCKROACHES!  

Yep, that's right, cockroaches.

As I was refilling my coffee pot for tomorrow morning, I noticed something black swirl around as I poured my coffee into the reservoir.  Taking a closer look, it was a bug that had drowned!  EEEEWWWWW!  Considering I had already drank the coffee that had be made and he was probably in there!!!

After really freaking out as best I could quietly so my kids didn't see, I gathered myself and did what any wife would do.

I called my hubby and work and squealed and vented and saved it in a container for him to look at when he gets home.

Then I remembered the other night as I was going to bed, I had come back in the kitchen to get something and found a cockroach looking thing on that exact same counter top.  I smashed him, thought nothing more of it.  I thought he had just snuck in when a door was open.

Ha!

So I get a flashlight to look closer because there's a crack above where the coffee pot is.  Not really a crack, but a small space between the cabinet and the wall.

SON OF A #&*$^*#&$&#!

There's his buddy!!!

So hubby told me where the RAID was.  I think I might've used 1/2 a can.  I sprayed so good, the yellow liquid RAID was running down my wall.  But I didn't care at that point.  

No cockroach coming out.  HUH? 

I'm really curious to see if he's still up there, maybe twitching in death, but I"m not about to stick my head underneath there to look up.  No way.

So I get called off to do some Mommy thing and when I come back, I let out a big squeal.

Because there on my counter is Buddy #2 lying there twitching as he sucks up the RAID in his nasty buggy lungs.

And here they are.  RIP little suckas!

Sorry I had to go all "Billy the Exterminator" on you.  Well, not really THAT sorry.  

That Duerksen Mama will kill ANYTHING that she doesn't want on her property!

Bugs, Wasps, Skunks, Cockroaches, Ants, ANYTHING!

Spread the word!  

Family Memories......

Ok.

So today, after working a TON lately (by Sunday he'll have worked 5 out of the last 7 days), he decides that is is the PERFECT day to dig up a tree.

WHAAAAA?

I even made him Marble Squares and Bubble Bread and this is the thanks I get?  Manual Labor?  

I've told him many times.

Get a good look at this body.  It was NOT made for manual labor.

Because I really try to do most things Chad wants on his days off when he's works a ton, I obliged.

We all got on yucky clothes and  went outside.

Everyone got a shovel, even the kids.  

Josh has a small bucket (not sure why, but I'm sure it'll be useful) and a hand trowel.  

Really, a hand trowel to dig up a tree?  But by the end we had commandeered it.

We weren't even 30 minutes into the job and.......

Chad broke our good digger.  

Really?

Is this a sign?

But boy, is he strong.  He even breaks heavy-duty stuff at work.  Not on purpose, mind you.  That's just how strong my man is!

Here's a picture of the tree.  Notice how Josh isn't even helping dig the tree.  He's off digging somewhere else.  

Our plan of attack was to dig around the root ball and loosen it.  Then those dang roots weren't loosening.  

So Chad brought out the ax.  

I made sure that EVERYONE was way back.

I know he knows what he's doing, but good golly.  He was really whacking that thing.  (Must be frustration from that dang sneeky skunk.)

And......

Macey was really throwing some tantrums.  

Yep.  The Terrible Two's have hit.

By the end, there was so much fit-throwing and crying, we all (including Josh) were pretending it was a radio.)

"Now on 99.6 MACE FM is Macey all day with "I'll cry every minute".

And this is how I worked.  

With Macey not even 2 feet behind me.  

I had to be super careful not to whack her with my shovel handle. Cuz I wouldn't want anyone crying now would I?  Ha!

Oh, and notice how Josh still has his bucket.  He was digging for Roly Polys.  

Well, at least he was digging.

So that plan of attack wasn't working, so Chad had to make it more messy come up with something else.

What loosens dirt?  Water!

What does that make?

Mud!

Notice how Zoey's in the background just chillin'.  Nothing phased her.  She is such a good dog.

That thing Chad has in his hand is the Yard Butler Deep Root Waterer.  He made me buy it so we could try and save the other trees.  

I think he just wanted another tool!

And this is the point where Chad took Josh's small shovel.

Then here is the most beautiful girl in the world.

And Zoey just chillin' again....

Notice how her eyes are even shut.  

(She's come such a long way since before we had kids.  Who knew she'd adjust so well??)

And then....

Josh had to go potty.

So what have we taught him to do when he's outside?

Pee on trees.

And what tree does he decide to pee on?

That's right ladies and gentlemen.  The one we are digging up!

In all his glory, he just pulls his pants down and let's 'er fly.

Mixin' with all that mud and water.

Yuck.

I did get a picture (cuz I'm sooooo gunna remind him of this someday).  But not gunna post it.  I do have lines I don't cross (just not many of them).

And that is how I dug the last 45 minutes.  Not much diggin' goin' on, but a whole lotta huggin'!

However, she did leave me long enough to go get a soup ladle (it was a sandbox toy at the old house).

We were thoroughly getting fed up with this stupid tree by now, so we tried to pull a little more with the truck.  

NOT.  We broke the chain.

But then I had a bright idea to start hacking at the root ball.  Not like we wanted it anyway.

Then we started to hack on one side of the root ball and hopefully, we could just push it over.

And....

Success!

Here's what the girls were working on. 

Talking seriously, loving lots, and building a relationship.

Macey would do so well with a puppy.  Mama's just not ready for one.

And here's how dirty the kids got.  

Daddy was the dirtiest, then Josh, then me, then Macey.  

Macey had a giant mud glop on the side of her face courtesy of her brother.

She was a sport about it.

And.....the tree down is.....

Well, I didn't get a picture of that.  By the end, the kids were crying and muddy.  I was fed up with that blankity, blank tree.  And I was so mad at it, I didn't even want to take a picture.

But Chad said the whole time, "This is making a memory."

Bull.  It's making me want Advil.

However, the one memory we will remember is Josh peeing on the the tree we were digging. 

So.......now we have the tree out, but we're down a shovel and a chain.  

Bonus.