Hasekamps of Tulip

A few new house pictures

2011-05-16T17:03:00.003-05:00

As we are getting closer to the end of the remodelling, or I like to hope that we are, I thought that I would add a few pictures and give an update. As of today, I have 2.5 partially working bathrooms, YAY! We have all the flooring that we are going to finish done for now. We have fell in love with how well the refinished 'old original flooring' looks, so have plans to have our flooring contractor return in August while we are at the State Fair and finish the dining and living room. We have purchased a new area rug and will have take up the old carpet and prepare the floor for him to do this while we are gone. Looking forward to it! We carpeted the three new kids rooms, haven't made any decisions on the two bedrooms that are in the orginal house, they both have hard wood under them and carpet that isn't in that good of shape, we could use new flooring in our kitchen as well..............so when we figure out if we have used up our loan money, that will probably help us decide what flors get more work and which things get added to the 'to-do' list....... hoping we can afford to do them all. I can't wait to get kids reshuffled to their rooms, the odds and ends 'projects' for updating their furniture done, etc............but is it ever ALL done, nope, not so far. Guessing that won't ever change either! Well I have door frames that need to be varnshed calling me from the basement, I should probably go and spend some time with them.

Thinking I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and hoping its not a train,

From Tulip~

PS--the picture of the 'hallway' is the original old hard wood floor, the pic with wood flooring AND carpet is all new stuff, and the vanity is in our new 'half bath'

Looking Forward

2011-05-12T14:26:00.000-05:00

SUMMER'S COMING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I know it is. Early indicators have come and gone. Cool days are fewer. Lawns have come to life. Our gorgeous and lush green pastures are generously sprinkled with beautiful black baby calves.

School is winding down. End of the year events are occuring daily. The Chapter FFA Banquet is history. So is the Prom. The coming week begins class picnics and field trips. Graduation is but a few days away and marks the culmination of the public school career. Goodbyes and tears, but also a celebration of life and its forever changing pattern.

The kids are spending more time in the barn. They are getting to know their summer romance--the show calves. While Summer does mean swimming, fishing, camps, and BBQ; for my family summer means fairs and cattle shows. We don't go on a traditional 'tourist-type' vacation. Instead, we take ours a day or two at a time all summer long. We put together our gypsy caravan--the stock trailer, the calves, lawn chairs, coolers, cookies, watermelon and so much more. I just can't wait.

By the end of most seasons I am always excited to embrace the next one. Winter was long and painful. Spring was sort of non-existent, and definitely short. The pains of winter have slightly dulled, but always present. Certainly realizing that new normal isn't necessarily a great thing. But I know there's someone who is so proud of our crooked rows of veggies in the garden and the black calves that will walk all over our yard daily and love the warm of summer at Hasekamp Farms.......

Two more weeks of school, then we will happily embrace---SUMMER,

From Tulip~

KH

:)

May the 3rd is a Special Day

2011-05-03T07:47:00.002-05:00

I think if I did my math correctly today would have been my Uncle Hank's 54th birthday. It's been 18yrs since he's been gone, and sometimes its hard to keep track of everyone's exact age in a large family. But this is one birthday that's easy to remember. My Uncle Hank was a special person in my life. My parents are the oldest and second oldest siblings in their families, so I have not only one, but two uncles that weren't gobs older than I was, Uncle Hank was 14 when I was born and Steve (he doesn't even get called uncle, sorry Steve) were sort of my big brothers.
My Uncle Hank was my dad's youngest sibling and only brother. While he loves his sisters, he and Uncle Hank were very close, so through that relationship, we were all pretty close. Now Dad and Uncle Hank liked hunting together and fishing and about all things outdoors. The love Uncle Hank and I shared was softball. I always looked forward to getting together with him and Aunt K and their boys as they came along, because chances are, a softball game would errupt. While it might be as basic as 'batting practice' which he was always great at helping me per-fect my stance or whatever issue I was having as I evolved as kid in the game. Or it might be an Angle Family Reunion most of which in my growing up years were held at Wilson Park in Granite City IL. There you can be 100% sure a baseball game would happen. Some of my happiest memories of childhood are of softball games and Uncle Hank was there.
Uncle Hank loved sports of every kind. He and Dad would always have to discuss the Missouri Illinois border wars game. They enjoyed MU football games, we all went to several St. Louis Cardinals games when I was a kid, back when you could carry in your picnic basket and cooler. He loved hockey, wrestling, and even played a little golf. Once his boys were born and got old enough to start playing sports, he added soccer to his long list of sports that he loved. I am not sure that there was ever a sport he didn't try if given the opportunity.
We lost him entirely too soon. He passed February of 93 at the age of 35 yrs old. He was playing a hockey game at the time. Loved his sports right up to the end. I think of him when I play ball with my kids. I think of him EVERY time I watch, Field of Dreams, another thing we both loved, that movie. I think of him (and Grandma Angle as well) when I listen to StL Cardinal baseball on the radio. I think of him when Missouri and Illinois play each other. And many other times. When you lose someone you love, normal is never the same, a good friend told me that and she was so right.
His family has progressed through this life in so many ways that he would be proud of I am sure. I think of 7 yrs ago today, when we all found out he would have been a grandpa, to the Angle Tripletts. I remember thinking at the time how Chris and Amy tried so hard to have a family and of all days to find out for sure, they did on his birthday and he sent them triple the blessings. Happy Birthday Uncle Hank, I know you are playing ball or fishing up there, the weather is perfect and someday we will play together again.
This is the Day the Lord has made, let us Rejoice and be Glad in it,
From Tulip~
KH
:)

So many projects, so little time........

2011-04-28T13:06:00.004-05:00

I was cleaned up a little in our office today, or at least attempting to rearrange the stacks so that it looks as if I have cleaned. And in that process I got very distracted with fabric, it happens, to me A LOT. See our farm office is ALSO my sewing room, maybe not for much longer, haven't decided where its going to be, or if the sewing stays and some of the other misc that also occupies our office will go, time will tell. Because much of my free time has been taken up with errands and chores related to remodelling our house, I haven't gotten the time to sew near as much as I would like. Not that it has stopped my 100mph creative side of my brain from taking a pit stop, oh no. So here are some recent sewing updates to share. Recently sent to the quilter were Marshall's Farm Quilt and a Graduation Quilt, that also served as sample for a recent sewing class. Currently in the works, Mom's birthday quilt is being bound, when I get five minutes to sit WHEN it is daylight outside, so yes you ppl who know her birthday is in June, and for those who might not know the whole story, this quilt was LAST YEARS gift! YIKES, but my momma got a lot of my time, handquilted, which next to NEVER happens! :) A tote that I am not really sure who is getting, I have a person or two in mind, we'll see. Another tote that has a potential 'owner' its one of those, why did I start out making this project this way, kinda things, I am stipple quilting it on my machine, which just typing the words stipple made my shoulders momentarily ache....... Let's see have special orders for a Apron for Jennifer, that she has been waiting on very patiently for quite some time, Lanyards for Billie Sue, and Graduation quilts........oh my, let's see there's Sloane, hers is about done, there's Jon, hopefully soon I will be able to say his is about done and then there's poor Andrew, I have your fabric buddy, and my rotary cutter is just sitting there itching to start cutting, hopefully soon. Let's see while I am on the subject of quilts, lets just throw out a Wedding Gift and my sweet Aunt E's birthday........ those are just the ones that are leaving our house that are in process. I have two friends wanting quilts made, hopefull Betsy and Toma, you will be on my list for summer! Now for my hopes, dreams and plans for this house.........Jenna and I have been making her a quilt for a while now, she's doing most of the sewing, so its taken a while, made one for Sam last fall that will go on his bed, Cody's is cut out and a few squares are made, and poor little ol' Seffy, well sweet pea, your fabric is here, and your momma hopes to complete your quilt before you lose interest in the cute western cowboy fabric that has been purchased for this project. Oh, there are many other projects in the works, in my mind yet, like the fabric that I purchased for someone very special to me. I bought the fabric thinking of her, and lo and behold she recently announced a quilt giving occasion that is coming up in her life, so need to put the stack of fabric to work......

Now for our house and the sewing that I have in mind creating for it. Guess I should have mentioned in the 'quilt' list, I would like to get a quilt made for our bed. I have certainly had the fabric long enough, I wanted to make it for our 20th wedding anniversary which was LAST summer, MAYBE I will get starting cutting it out before our anniversary THIS summer, who knows???? I have fabric for Jenna's curtains, Seth's curtains and ours. Not sure what is going on in Sam and Cody's rooms, but the backlog of unsewn fabric is getting tall enough that I am not feeling to bad about not having purchased theirs yet. All of these projects makes me look so forward to summer, not so much because I think that there's any chance that the kids will help me with them, or actually in my anal retentiveness I would let them. I know when summer hits, I will be able to work on MY schedule, and sew until dawn if I choose to and not have to worry about the early morning, can you sub today call?

Some upcoming projects I am dreaming of are a Sunflower purse for my sweet neighbor Janey who loves her sunflowers. It's a fun project that included the Clover Yoyo templates that I purchased at Material Girl Quilt Shop. I have fabric, well fleece for a 'football blanket' for us. It's black and white pawprints, and plans for that are to have some thing warm to either sit on or under at football games this fall, of which we will likely be attending 3 per week throughout Sept and Oct and hoping to see a few in Nov as well, yes it will be a 'season pass' year for us, with Sam in Middle School and Cody probably playing both JV and Varsity, but I look forward to it.

Well I think I have rambled on until my pics uploaded, if what I THINK I uploaded is all here, you should be seeing pics of Seth's fabric for his cowboy quilt, Andrew's 'batiks' which I am planning to sew into a 'Contemporary Nine' and the fabrics for one of the quilts I am dreaming of making, that one doesn't have a pattern yet............. Okay back to the real world for me, more 'remodelling stuff' and this week I am baking up a storm for a catering job, so its not likely that I will progress on any of this for a few days, but I have enjoyed thinking about it while adding this post.

Hearing the timer go off and loving the smell of cookies~

From Tulip,

Easter 2011, just some thoughts

2011-04-24T17:35:00.002-05:00

Easter
The time of renewal.
The time of new life for Christians in the sacrifice and resurrection of Christ.

Easter brings about such precious memories. Some of my earliest ones are of Easter baskets, a new dress and a bonnet, probably not unlike most children. I fondly remember one year when we hosted an Egg Hunt. I remember Mom making baskets out of construction paper. It was a lot of times a weekend that Grandma Angle came to visit, sometimes some of my Angle cousins as well. I still have a few ceramic eggs that Grandma gave us in the era. I remember the year I got a stamp collecting kit which started a childhood love of history and government that was the basis of my interest in both still today. Memories of family dinners with Grandma Barnes making her traditional Angel Food Cake, but decorated with green coconut 'grass' and jelly beans.

As I got older, I too, began to embrace the joy of cooking and crafting in preparation of Easter. The first time I attended Hasekamp Easter, I made my first 'Easter' cake to bring along, covered in coconut and decorated to look like a bunny. (I HATE coconut, LOL) After growing up and marrying, Church Services switched from Sturgeon First Christian to Tulip Christian Church. The tradition at Tulip was an egg hunt at the end of Sunday School Class. The first year we were married, David was Sunday School Superintendent. We learned the hard way not to wait to buy Easter candy. In the following years we started being green before it was the in thing to do, we bought the plastic eggs to fill and recycled them year after year.

After we started our own family, we started some of our own traditions. We dye Easter eggs. We make Easter Story cookies. In the last several years we have hosted a large family dinner, at supper time. For the first several years it was only our own children hunting the eggs, but in the last few years the hunters have grown, now our nieces and nephews hunt with the kids. It's sometimes the first 'outside' gathering we have had, so we like to barbeque or fry fish, that has sort of become a tradition as well as Easter Bunny Kathy gets all the kids new swimming suits.

Our children have offered many Easter memories. One that comes to mind would be the Easter of 2002. Our family was getting ready to grow although no one knew it. YET. During the childrens sermon, our pastor at the time Bobby Stanford started his lesson with 'Have you ever had a secret?' To which Samuel (then about 3 and half) frantically raised his hand and began 'Pawecha Bob, Pawecha Bob' Trying to ignore him a little, Bob tried to begin the lesson, Sam wouldn't be denied, so he called on him. Sam blurted out loudly and plainly 'My Momma has a BABY in her Belly!' You could have heard a pin drop. Eyes looked around at us from all over the church. The look on Bob's face was priceless. He looked out at the congregation, repeated his original question, 'Have you ever had a secret? How do I top that?' :)

Easter memories are sweet ones. That's probably why this year not getting to add to them has made me so sad. I did however look forward to this mornings' message of hope in the Resurrection, can still hear the music and congregation singing while Susie played 'Up from the Grave, He Arose'

Still learning to accept 'new normal' and not particularly thrilled with it,

From Tulip~

I'll take mine Well Done, PLEASE!

2011-04-20T18:05:00.003-05:00

Do you ever wonder if as a parent you are doing your job well? Notice I didn't say right or wrong, as there are so many varying opinions as to what is right or wrong as there are individual parents in this world.
But how do we define a job well done? What is a picture of success? Especially on a subject like parenting. One that is held in the highest of regard by some. One that is abused and exploited by others. It's kind of like the Army used to say 'the toughest job you'll ever love'.
What are the rewards of a job well done? What are the drawbacks of not constantly striving to be a success?
Rewards can be as small as a smile or a snuggle with your child. They can be as big as your imagination or that of your child can take you--truly the sky is the limit.
The drawbacks can be as small as maybe not getting the rest you need or eating a meal at the time and temperature you prefer.
Bigger drawbacks come in the form of emotions. Like saying goes, 'to be a parent is to forever know that your heart has the ability to walk outside your body.
Oh I could get nitpicky and list off other things, I suppose. But the thing is most people who are truly striving to be good parents don't generally see any of those things as major drawbacks. In the heat of the moment while arguing with a teenager about curfew or being so sleep deprived you wonder how you will be able to continue to walk the floors with this newborn--we might all momentarily question--but most of us don't see those things as bad things. Just part of it. As we realize there are many people who wish they were in our shoes and soon enough we will trade the 'tennis shoes' necessary for the active life of parenting small and growing children to the more comfortable shoes of a parent of grown children.
I've mentioned the good, the bad and the ugly that is experienced on the personal level. While personal success is important: What are some outward examples of success or a job well done?
We seem to be a results driven society. Raises at work are many times based on the successful accomplishment of goals. Good looks and charm will only get you so far. But with parenting sometimes its hard to see if you are truly doing a job 'well done'.
I read somewhere that taking care of children is like shoveling the snow before the storm is over. And yes the dog days of childhood may seem redundant and boring at times for adults; it seems to me that the happiest and healthiest children are those little 'creatures of habit.' So if as a parent I do the same thing everyday, over and over---where's the success?
I think that success is measured many ways. From potty-training and learning to tie shoes to teaching them to drive and balance a checkbook. I think we can call ourselves a success as parents when you can look at your child and know that you've taught them to not only survive but THRIVE in this world. We as parents can point them toward happiness--when they seek and find it; I think that's a job 'well done'

Just letting the thoughts roll out tonight,
From Tulip~
KH
:)

Spring, Signs of Life and Sewing

2011-04-15T10:11:00.015-05:00

Well after a long dark winter, I think I can safely say that Spring has sprung. The winter was harsh in so many ways. Bitter cold, lots of snow and saying goodbye to one we love so dearly. Maybe it was appropriate that Bob left us in winter, at the end of the life cycle. Now as we look towards Spring and its renewal, we realize the cycle of life just keeps turning. Renewal and revitalization are wonderful things to look forward to. With Spring has came, little calves everywhere, a new niece, the beginning of the spring planting.

Some things are wrapping up that were what kept us plugging along through the winter. Wrestling concluded, a little before we were ready for it too. Sam ended up qualifying at the Regional Tournament, but his 5th place finish, while considering the competition was good, wasn't high enough to advance him to State. Seth tried wrestling this year, thinking he's maybe a little young, as he wasn't particularly interested in the actual wrestling but loved running during the conditioning part of practice. Everyone has to have their own thing, right?

With Spring the school starts coming to a close with all the hub-bub and activity that entails. Cody is playing golf. Shooting in the mid 40's.........golf ability must skip generations, Dad loves and Cody does, I used to like to play, but this thing called, life and kids have made it a near impossible activity, but I am glad that they have a sport that they can play together and enjoy doing it. The schools are getting ready for MAP testing next week. I have been subbing quite a bit so I have seen firsthand the work the teachers and students put in to prepare for it.

Sam got to try his hand at turkey hunting this spring with my Uncle Steve. They didn't get one, but enjoyed the time spent together. With the abundant wildlife on our farm, I wouldn't be upset at all if my boys want to continue on this new adventure. This year after deciding not to participate in the County Fair Sale (so for us, no ham curing this year) Cody and Sam took shooting sports through 4H. They each are trying a different discipline, Cody with archery and Sam with rifle. They both got their Hunter Safety cards and are looking forward to time in the woods.

For my littles life isn't quite as hectic, thank goodness I say! Jenna is our resident Barn Diva and out checking on the show stock and keeping track of new calves. She loves them all, thats for certain. She has a show heifer and potentially 2 steers, depending on how many we get broke to lead. She's taking part in the 'calming down process' and can get a hand on most of them and has starting combing them most days when Dad and Uncle Jason remember to tie them up, I know with her it won't be long and she will be tying them herself.

Jenna got picked for a special local honor this spring. My Mom has worked at Shelter Insurance for many years. In front of the home office is a fountain that every year some child or grandchild of an employee gets picks to turn on the fountain. Mom says that every year when she has had a child or grandchild between the ages of 5 and 10 she's put their name in and this year was the first time one of us had gotten picked. So at a little local mini celebration of Spring, Jenna got to turn on the foutain.

Seth is still getting used to life as a fulltime school student. By the end of most weeks, he still takes a nap when he gets home, and bedtime is never a hard sell to him. I think that he likes school and loves his teacher almost as much as she loves him, I worry about that woman, ha ha, love ya, Laura! :) The Kindergarten has their Spring Musical performance next week, where Seth will be Tikki tikki timbo, no sa rembo.....etc etc, I can't remember the whole name, bu the has his lines and the rest of the kids' all memorized, so we look forward to that.

Spring means graduation, and for me that means sewing. We have some kids who are special to our family who will receive quilts, if I get them done, and amongst the million other things that go on in my day, I am making progress, one almost complete, two others in the progress, but two more to do, YIKES, that stresses me out, putting that on paper....... :/ I have big plans of curtains and quilts for the kids new rooms that are finally getting closer to completion. I keep thinking I am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel on this remodelling odessy we have embarked on.

My pictures long kind of jumbled at the top of my blog in this edit mode and I never know how they are going to come out in the finished project, so I will explain what they are, hopefully you can make heads or tails out of it all. There is a picture of Jenna holding a quilt (yes she's standing atop a ladder!) There's one of her in front of the fountain (they had facepainting that night as well) A picture of Sam after winning a match. Never get tired of seeing the referee raise their arm in the air! There's a picture of my baby holding a baby, Seth held Lynzie, with Uncle Jason's help. He was so cute that night at the hospital, he wasn't satisfied to only hold her once, he needed to hold her a second time. And the last or maybe the first, depending on how they come out is of our neighbor Leonard Armontrout. He is a World War 2 veteran and got to go on this Spring's Central Missouri Honor Flight, which means that he and a plane full of vets, got a trip to Washington DC to visit the nations war memorials. Quite a neat honor.

Well its a rainy Friday morning and I have already worked on the new rooms and got laundry going, but that's only a start of what is ahead of me today.

Sitting in my downtown office,

From Tulip~

Got Change?

2011-02-18T16:51:00.002-06:00

Disclaimer: Sort of disconnected and scatterbrained, kinda think that is just where we are right now in our grief, but had some thoughts and decided to attempt to put them together.

Have you ever noticed that the only consistent thing about life is that is constantly changing? While generally I like the challenge change brings about. Whether its a new improved way of doing something or learning how to program my new cell phone, the education offered in change is a good thing.
As we travel through life, not all changes are welcome. We recently went through a change in our life. Two weeks ago, my dear sweet kind hearted father in law said goodbye to this earthly world in order go onto his reward in paradise. While the brain comprehends the inevitable change and end of the cycle in which cancer had eaten away his earthly body and riddled it unrelentlessly. The heart breaks in sadness, for OUR loss. It's hard to stay focused on the good things that change meant for Bob. The end of his earthly suffering. An eternal life with his Heavenly Father spent enjoying the rewards of paradise.
For us, especially David, the loss is overwhelming. People say, you'll get back to normal. A good friend recently said normal is never the same and she's exactly right. While the day to day quickly enough falls back into a routine, that sense of loss is always there.
Our capacity to love many special people in our lifetimes, is quite extraordinary. While we easily add more people throughout our lives, there are just some people who are irreplaceable, two groups in particular are parents and children. I think part of that are because those are the two most common examples of unconditional love/
If you have been blessed enough to experience that in life, embrace it, it can be fleeting, change is always right around the corner. I feel blessed to experience that love with my parents and certainly feel that with my kids.
I have rambled kind of 'scatteredly' (is that even a word?) between change, love and relationships. I will attempt to tie it up now.
The consistent ever evolving change through the various stages of life does offer us balance. The bad reminds us just how great the good can be. As my family evolves through this painful, 'never the same/new normal' that our recent loss has presented us with; the constant 'turning of a page' is getting ready to once again expand our hearts with a new hope and a new life to be a part of and love. In about a week, our little niece will enter this world, ironically right down the hall from where her Grandpa said good-bye to us. Guess that's balance of life, good changes and bad.
Kind of an odd rambling blog that has made my 3rd graders wonder why there are tears in my eyes,
Rough draft while subbing at CIS,
Blogged at home,
From Tulip~
KH

Bob, a life richly blessed

2011-01-29T17:41:00.002-06:00

Over half my lifetime ago, I met this wonderful person. While I think his son is pretty great, but I am talking about my father in law, Bob Hasekamp. You know a person is pretty lucky to have extra parents in their lives. If there’s a person is as much a father to me as my own father, it’s Bob, and rightly so, I suppose. Throughout our marriage I have learned to seek his advice on many a thing, as it was always thoughtful and thought provoking. It was always practical and never self seeking. While I love my own parents so much, I have always been amazed at the depth at which my husbands relationship with own parents is. I have come to realize over the years that Bob and David are not only father and son, they are business partners and best friends. Advice from Dad is not only a sign of respect for my husband, its just the way he does things. I will admit from time to time that has frustrated me, but looking back, he’s never steered us wrong. I hope that our children will always think that highly of us and I sure hope we never disappoint them. Bob the father is a beautiful aspect of who he is, but there are so many more. Bob, the friend, is a person I would say that all around him would agree has been a blessing in many lives. Examples that come to mind are many. The one that I will mention is Bob’s relationship with Bill. No two guys in my opinion more clearly define friends and neighbors than those two. In good times and bad, they are right there together thankfully enjoying the blessings God has offered, each has attended each other’s parents funerals, each other’s children’s weddings, they worship together, have worked side by side together at fairs and so many more things, I am positive I would never tell you if I talked all day all the ways that they shown their devotion to each other as friends.
Bob, the family man to me, means more than just us kids and grandkids. Bob was an only child, with 5 first cousins. So the meaning of family is more extended for him than it is most. His cousins were growing up and are today his siblings. I know that I love my cousins and we are close, but we can’t hold a candle to the relationships that Bob has had with his cousins. Richard and George are the younger brothers, both always ready to share stories and laughs. Mary E, MarySue and Sara, the sisters, of course, who Bob has always loved bragging up their cooking or whatever else came to mind at the time. See Bob was lucky, he had those ‘siblings’ and got to enjoy all the love, but didn’t have to suffer through the day to day sibling spats that the rest of us have had. Because of this relationship he’s held for his whole lifetime with his cousins, we’ve all been blessed to have a closer relationship with their families, one that had Bob had brothers and sisters, we may not have ever known. For me, within my closest circles of my own friendships are three members of that group.
Bob the church and community minded neighbor has been a blessing in many lives as well. When something needs to be done at Tulip, I can say without a doubt for the last several years, my father in law, has been right there ready to go. He’s had a smile on his face and a willingness to serve his fellow man that is unmatched by many. He’s consistently worked in many capacities in our own church, over the years on MFA boards, working at the local and county level with 4H and FFA during fair time or any other time, rain or shine, he’s right there asking what else he can do to help.
Bob, the man of God. I am not sure that I have known to many people who have been as accepting of God’s will in their lives as Bob. As long as I have known him, which was barely a third of his lifetime, he has always been the example I go back to again and again, when I think of living a true Christian life. He’s been God’s servant in so many ways. He’s taught Sunday School, been a role model and advisor to many on their walk through faith. Even when personal times were tough, he’s never blamed God to my knowledge when a lesser person might have. And Bob has endured some pretty rough times and held his head high and kept traveling down lifes journey, all the while amazing us all.
Maybe God made Bob a farmer for all of these reasons. He’s persevered through many things in his life, not all of them easy ones, and we certainly all know the life of a farmer isn’t an easy one. Hard work and dedication are certainly the name of the game. I have always thought that farmers are closer to God than a lot of other professions, he’s kind of our business partner. One that many farmers talk to daily. Thanks for the needed rains, thanks for group of heifers who all calved easily, or the requests for help when the rains came and weren’t needed or we had to pull all the calves that spring. Bob has always been such an accepting person of whatever the outcome was, good harvest or not so good. Twin calves that the cow raised, or pulling them both, maybe losing one and have to bottle feed the other. It’s always been Gods will that ruled Bob’s life. A lesson that we could all take from him, that’s for sure.
Now I come to a part that I knew for me would be hard, so saved it for last and pray that I can get through it. Bob, the grandfather. There are 5 lights in his life, he’d tell you. He’s certainly always been a proud and supportive father, but he has said so many times that being a grandfather has been something that has amazed him beyond words. If you wanted to see his face light up regardless of the situation, just let one of those kids come into his line of vision. He was our helper last fall when Cody started HS and needed lots of extra rides into town. His health had hampered his full bore all day work hard work day of a farmer, so he was able to enjoy driving in to take Cody to school activities, it was a blessing for us as we juggled get the other three kids to their things. I think that it was blessing for Bob and Cody as well. Cody has matured to the point where he and Bob could talk on an adult level about so many aspects of life. I know that over the years, Cody will look back at some of those talks and realize that blessing over and over. Sam has always tickled Bob, with the similar quieter personalities, I think that Bob ‘gets’ Sam, probably in a way, that I know I don’t always understand myself. He was always so proud of the young man he’s becoming. Growing up on a farm, there’s always little helpers who from varying degrees at different ages loved to help Dad or Grandpa, but I think the helper that Bob got the biggest kick out of has been Jenna. Their rides over to Amish country to deliver hay were always educational in his report, to which David and I always wondered just what all she said and were secretly grateful that they didn’t return with a pony. ‘Ram=pa’ and Seth have gotten closer in the last few years, since his older siblings have all been in school. I am sure that ‘educational’ would be one way Bob would describe some of their talks. Then there’s our little nephew Marshall. Lunchtime at Grandma and Grandpa’s and four wheeler rides have been some of the outward highlights of their time spent together. Marshall is definitely an eager and willing worker, just like Pa Pa, especially when it comes to riding on a tractor with him. He’s looking so forward to our niece being born, I hope and pray they get to meet face to face.
I know that I could talk all day about the amazing ways this man has blessed our lives, but part of that blessing is that each of you have so many wonderful memories. His legacy of love, friendship, and service will be felt for beyond his lifetime. I know I count him as one of my many blessings.

Praying for my Father in Law,

From Tulip~

It's Wrestling Season

2011-01-25T11:34:00.003-06:00

It's that time of year. The roads are slick and nasty, the evenings are long. It's winter. Kinda dismal and icky to most. I would tend to agree. Until I start thinking about that along with winter comes WRESTLING SEASON. I am not sure that I love it like I do Football, but it is right up fighting for second place with professional baseball (which isn't far away, thank goodness!) This is the time of year when Sam can

tell you what he weighs down to the ounce. When we go to bed early on Friday nights as we have to get up long before the sun rises and head to a gym somewhere at least an hour away, to spend the better part of our day with hundreds of other devoted wrestling parents. Ten hours of sitting for ten minutes of wrestling. When your son is having a good year, which Sam is this year, its not even ten minutes of wrestling. But that's okay. Like many of the other activities we are in, we have made our wrestling friends. We have our cattle showing friends, State Fair friends, friends of parents in each of the kids classes, so sure we may as well have our wrestling friends too. It's that parent who's child wrestles yours every week, sometimes we win, sometimes they do. They stand in the bullpen laughing and telling jokes, then they step on the mat and its all business. As soon as the match is over, a handshake and hug and on to the next match.

With all sports and many other things in life, we see examples of the best and the worst humanity has to offer. Yes sadly there's that dad hollaring at the kid after the match, but thankfully that is rare. The things that I find most heartwarming is watching two boys leave the mat and the mom of the winner hugging and comforting the young man who just lost. I don't think that kids who only participate in team sports can ever truly get wrestling. It's so personal. When you win, YOU won! And when you lost, yes YOU lost. There's no one else to blame it on. It's glaringly obvious. But thankfully the brotherhood of wrestlers and their families all realize that and win or lose, the whole group is right there supporting those kids in an intensity that I really do not believe exists with other sports. I played basketball and softball growing up and while yes our parents cheered and supported us, we did it as a team, and you never felt alone. I can't imagine how it feels to walk off the mat as the referee holds your opponents arm in the air.

All of that being said, the adrenaline rush of wrestling I have to think is hard to top. I know as a parent and a spectator its pretty intense. Like a friend said, its a fight with rules. It gets under our skin at a basic level, survival. To be successful has to be the greatest feeling in the world. To learn the discipline to also lose like a gentleman is a life skill that will take these young men far as well.

I will admit that I mourned the loss of basketball in my life 5 yrs ago when my boys started wrestling. But I am proudly a 'Mat Momma' now. Sam is having a great season, only two losses. I believe he has around 6 pins for the season. He wrestles again weekend after next at Jefferson City Jays tournament, and possibly one or two more, then its Finals time in March. Here's hoping we have 'plans' the last weekend in March, and we make it to the Hearnes Center for the State tournament.

Sitting in my office, listening to my supposedly sick littlest grappler run up and down the hallway of the 'new part' of the house (is there Crack in a Z-pac?)

From Tulip~

Our Home

2011-01-19T09:07:00.003-06:00

I don't know that I have shared on my blog that we are building onto our home. So here's the story: We have lived in this house for a little over 12 yrs. We moved in when Sam was one month old. This is the house that David grew up in. When we moved in here, we traded houses with David's parents. I remember thinking how empty the house looked when Bob and Gladys moved their stuff out and it was just our things in here.

Since the boys were little, we put them into a bedroom together and then they had a playroom as well. We had a huge spacious bedroom.

Fast forward 12 yrs, add 2 more kids and GOBS more STUFF. Our two-three bedroom, ONE BATHROOM house seemed to almost burst at the seams. We had talked for several years about adding onto our house. We finally drew it up, tweaked it and took the plunge. Crowded-ness was factor then, so was 'old house' the south wall of our basement had started cracking and the cracked area had began to bulge, which of course concerned us that some day we would find ourselves in the basement......YIKES!

Last summer, we started the process of adding onto our home. We are adding about 25 feet onto the entire south side of our house and extending the basement, adding 1500 square feet to our home. When done, each child will have their own room. We will go from 1 to 2.5 bathrooms and just generally have some elbow space. :)

Currently we are waiting to get the dry wall taped, mudded, sanded, etc....... then the finish work is about all that is left. I am not a huge fan of painting and I have figured out that basically 2/3 of our house will end up getting painting, something I am not excited about, but am looking forward to as it means the project will be closer to complete. So if you like to paint, LMK, I can put you to work!

Awaiting the 'promised' snow storm and hoping the weatherman is wrong,

From Tulip~

Pillowcases

2011-01-09T17:52:00.004-06:00

The pictured project this week is a pair of coordinating pillowcases I made for a friend. She one of the people who have reaped the benefit of my PIF (pay it forward) campaign. They went to Alicia Hancock. I have known her since she was a small child. Her family lives at the corner of Hwy EE and 151 (Mom, they live in the 3 dormered roof house, you and Dad love!) I first met her mom Bonnie when I had crafts in the 'Gingerbread House' which a craft co-op shop in the 'old Kinkead's bldg, which is currently the home of 'In Full Bloom' flowershop. Alicia grew up and is now the 8th grade language teacher at CBMS. We have gotten to be friends with our mutual love of the 'Material Girl Quilt Shop' and sewing. I posted a 'shout out' to friends whom I had completed some gifts for the other night on Facebook and she called me on it. So to do her one better, I added her to my list. A little facebook stalking helped me to discover what colors and fabrics would go with items already in her house and darn if my favorite fabric, a piece I have been keeping for a few months now, was the one that went the best with it. She mentioned she'd like pillowcases and of course I didn't have enough to make two identical pillowcases, but made two that coordinated with each other instead. So happened that the green and cream pieces were both in my stash as well. With that thought in mind, I am thinking that I will try to make as many of my PIF gifts as possible from my fabric stash, what a great way to use those pieces I like but didn't have specific projects in mind for and then when the stash is getting low, HA! What a great excuse to work on replenishing it! :)

The pattern I used for the pillowcases came from http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/millionpillowcases/freepatterns/index.html This is a website that I think I have mentioned before. It is sponsored by Better Homes and Gardens, the goal is to create 1 million pillowcases to be donated to charities throughout the country. Pillowcases go to sick children, older folks in nursing homes and peopl in crisis throughout this country. I have made a few and donated them, hope to make a few more. Our local charitable group that makes items for local kids has decided that Christmas 2011 will be pillow year, we are going to make pretty pillowcases with a new pillow inside and the usual other goodies.

If you are interested in participating at any level, go check out this website, there is much information to learn, PLUS it has a gob of FREE PATTERNS for many variations of the basic pillowcase.

It's been a busy weekend and the week ahead promises more of the same~

From Tulip,

I love a NEW year

2011-01-05T07:37:00.002-06:00

Why is it that we are all always so fired up about a New Year? We make resolutions, start diets, etc........with such reckless abandon, its really kinda entertaining. I don't always necessarily make specific resolutions, but have had the same goal for years, organize and simplify my life and keep it maintained, sounds simple, but not always attainable. I remember very distinctly ten years ago, the year I turned 30 was such a year for change in my life. I finally felt like I had my head above water, Cody was 6, Sam was 2. I was ready for something. At the time I had no idea what (mostly that two more blessings were yet to arrive, but that's a whole other blog in and of itself, love my Jenny Kamper and Seffy Kamps!) I can remember having this feeling of I am finally 'old enough' I felt so comfortable in my own skin, satisfaction or contentment maybe, I don't know. It was a year of change in that I started doing daycare, on a very small scale, I started taking care of Nicklaus, as he was born that spring. We bought our first home computer.
9/11 happened. Wow. Doesn't that seem like yesterday? I know our parents said the same thing about Kennedy assassination, and Grandparents about Pearl Harbor. Always interesting to me to think about where we were in our own lives when those moments of history occured.
Fast forward 10 yrs. We have added 3 'in laws' almost 4 nephews/nieces (2nd niece will make her appearance in March) My parents are business owners. David parents have declining health. Our immediate family is MUCH bigger. Our home is in the process of 'growing' to accommodate that. It's been a 'year of change' already for me. All of my kids are in school. I am working not one, not two, but THREE part-time jobs. Ten years ago, we were 'barely' involved in activities, now 4H, FFA, football, wrestling and SO much more are a part of our daily lives.
As I enter this new decade, I feel that urgency of 'change' again. I embraced it ten years ago, and happily do so again today. I am glad its gradual and easy to slide right into. I certainly haven't simplified my life, but I am making great strides on the organizing and maintaining aspects of that goal mentioned above and you know I kinda love the chaos.
In this New Year and 'dawn of a new decade' for me (we have till July before its official) I am doing things now that I never thought I had time for in my simpler life of fewer kids, fewer activities that make my heart so happy. I have started exercising again (WOW have I ever NEEDED to do that!?!?!) and doing things for others, just because I want to (that one makes my heart really happy!) I am kinda making a few resolutions, but shhh, don't tell. Some things I have been adding lately are: when I get on facebook, I look at the friends that happen to pop up along the left hand side of my profile page and say a PRAYER for them, no I don't always know what their particular trials are, but that's okay, God knows. The few times I enter a drive-through lane to get something convenient for our day, I buy the person behind me's meal. Have done that about 5 times in the last two months! I have to say, I love that 'honk' I have I gotten! :) On facebook just yesterday, there was a pay it forward post, and I who NEVER participate in those, DID. I have a list of about 6 friends who commented and I am aleady thinking of fun things that I can make them. I picked up two free patterns for a couple of friends at a fabric store yesterday that feature items each have mentioned wanting to make, YAY! Have been very excited thinking of all the 'pay it forward' things I am GOING to do this year. I have already logged 15 miles of exercise this year! and its only 5th!
I am looking forward to this NEW YEAR, and even more excited about the new decade that is coming soon. Heck I have BLOGGED twice this year, yeah its gonna so rock in 2011.
Listening to the contractors climbing around on my roof and smiling thinking of the finished project~
From Tulip,
KH
:)

Happy New Year! Welcome 2011

2011-01-01T13:17:00.004-06:00

Having not been a regular blogger as of late I have no excuse, but will offer a few, we are remodelling our home, adding 1400 sq ft, I have started 3!!! parttime jobs (sewing instructor, substitute teacher and working at Dad's pool hall) to my already crazy life and taken back up a hobby that I have had off on since I was a kid, I have been sewing. Alot.

I decided that a New Years Resolution might be to blog once a week about a project that I have completed, hopefully that will get me back in the 'blogging groove' and I can start boring you with all the stuff that I find interesting. Cross your fingers.

The picture I am sharing today is of the the Tote Bag I made for Seth to give his teacher. We have been blessed this year to get Laura Warbritton as his Kindergarten teacher. While I believe that all of the options on the Kindergarten team are great, I was thrilled to end like we started (Cody had her as well!) Laura and I have kinda gotten to be friends, between the 10 yrs since she had Cody, her son Alex (aka to the kids Bob) and Cody both play football, we follow the boys to many a game. Laura has started sewing, so we have been known to hang out with the 'cool kids' at Material Girl Quilt Shop. And of course my many years of being a room mom or various other volunteer at Chance Elementary has offered us occasion to get to know each other. I feel blessed that this woman is in my sons life, she's not only his teacher, but one of his biggest fans (she gets his humor! YIKES!) I know that she really loves her little students and makes the beginning of their school career a special one. Thank you so much Laura!

Now a little about the bag. I have become a big fan of Moda Fabrics thanks to the influence of my good friend Meredith, owner of the local quilt shop, Material Girl Quilt Shop (another plug for you sister!) Moda has a wonderful blog called Moda Bake Shop. (go check it out sometime, its WONDERFUL!!! GOBS of FREE PATTERNS!!) I have been visiting the Bake Shop for quite some time and last summer I found a great tutorial for the 'Charming Tote' its based off of one of Moda's precut fabric packs, the 'Charm Pack' The size of your tote is based on the amount of charms you use on a side. Very basic construction and goes together in a snap. The first one I made was more of a purse size with 9 charms on a side, I have made them with 12, 16 and even 20 on a side. This is a simple purse that I have made over and over. It looks cute everytime. I have discovered magnetic snaps that can be purchased at Jo-Ann fabrics. The brand name is Everything Mary. They are available in many sizes and colors. The company also makes other purse accessories and findings from 'feet' for the bottoms of purses to lanyard hooks. They are reasonably priced as well. The fabric series from Moda is called 'Punctuation' by American Jane Patterns, Sandy Klop designer, most of her fabrics have a home-y feel to me, she had a cute camping series a few years ago, just something about the fabrics remind me of growing up.

I taught my version as a basic tote at my Beginners Sewing Class last week. Had one student make hers into a diaper bag for her niece. For anyone interested, I teach these classes at least once a month and am open to doing private classes for groups of three or more. I am planning our January class right now, which is tenatively scheduled for Jan 16th, 2pm to 5pm and the project will be placemats or a table runner. Please feel free to contact me on here, via facebook or email or of course you can give me a call if you are interested.

Again I say Happy 2011 enjoying the warmth of our home while looking out at the sunny, but cold New Years Day outside,

From Tulip~

Locks of Love AKA Jenna Loves Grandpa Bob

2010-09-29T22:43:00.003-05:00

Many of you know that my family has been struggling for quite some time with David's dad, Bob's struggle with cancer. We know that chances are this won't be happy ending for us. For him, he will go and see his heavenly Father and await the rest to join him someday. We struggle with our selfish thoughts of how much we will miss and can't imagine him no longer in our daily lives, it's hard to even type these words much less consider that we will unfortunately be living them some day. While we struggle with our own personal thoughts and feelings about this, as parents, we don't want this process to be any tougher than it has to for our kids. Although the loss of a Grandparent regardless of your age isn't an easy one for anyone, we are trying to explain this process to our kids slowly to hopefully help ease their pain and maybe help us focus on something besides our personal pain as well. For the big boys, Cody and Sam, we've been pretty upfront with them and I think that they have a pretty decent understanding of what's ahead. But for the shorties, it's a different deal. I have tried to explain things on their terms along the way so they have some understanding. But I am many times at a loss for what to say. So I have tried to educate the kids on things that they could do to help.

Jenna has been 'growing out bangs' for a year now. What used to be her bangs are now quite long and have for sometime been long enough to tuck behind her ears. We have talked off and on for the last year, what she might do once they are grown out. Well the talk has evolved recently into possibly donating the hair that got cut off to Locks of Love. So we had to wait until there was enough to donate and still have some on her own head.........finally today was the day.

While I think that she understands now, throughout our conversations she's had cute questions, things like, 'Do you really think Grandpa Bob will like my yellow hair'? She's so cute, I love it. Well today while we were cutting and asking many times over, are you sure, I watched my little girls generous heart bulge with pride over what was her first act charity, one that she did without hesitation. Oh sure she loved the compliments and such. But I think that she grew today, and probably so did I.

Wiping a tear and wishing all five pictures would upload so you could see the whole process,

From Tulip~

The Boys of Fall (and a girl too!)

2010-09-17T07:53:00.002-05:00

When I feel that chill and smell that wet cut grass

I'm back in my helmet cleats and shoulder pads

Standin in the huddle listenin to the call

Fans going crazy for the boys of fall

They didn't let just anybody in that club

Took every ounce of heart and sweat and blood

To get to wear those game day jerseys down the hall

Kings of the school man we're the boys of fall

Well it's turnin' to face the stars and stripes

It's fighting back them butterflies

It's call it in the air alright, yes sir we want the ball

And it's knockin heads and talkin trash

It's slinging mud and dirt and grass

It's I got your number, I got your back

When your backs against the wall

You mess with one man you got us all

The Boys of Fall

In little towns like mine it's all they got

Newspapers clippings fill the coffee shops

The old men will always think they know it all

Young girls will dream of The Boys of Fall

Well it's turnin' to face the stars and stripes

It's fighting back them butterflies

It's call it in the air alright, yes sir we want the ball

And it's knockin heads and talkin trash

It's slinging mud and dirt and grass

It's I got your number, I got your back

When your backs against the wall

You mess with one man you got us all

The Boys of Fall

Well it's turnin' to face the stars and stripes

It's fighting back them butterflies

It's call it in the air, alright yes sir we want the ball

And it's knockin heads and talkin trash

It's slinging mud and dirt and grass

It's I got your number, I got your back

When your backs against the wall

You mess with one man you got us all

The Boys of Fall

The boys of fall

(The boys of fall, the boys of fall..)

We're the boys of fall

That Kenny Chesney song brings goosebumps to me EVERY time I hear it! As long as I can remember, I have ALWAYS loved fall. I will admit that I was one of those goofy kids who looked forward to school starting. I have also always loved jumping in leaves, still rake 'em with the kids and jump in at least once, and have great memories of doing that with my brother and my cousins, Eric and Chad, who lived across the road when we were little.

As I got older, I started appreciating other great things of fall, like trees changing color, mums and pumpkins, and craft shows. After I married the farmer, I look forward to the Harvest! All of their hard work comes to a finale. I love memories of riding in the combine when we were younger, SKINNIER and dating! I rode with DH alot in the combine. Mom and I did Craft Shows in the fall, the crisp cool air, friends and fun.

Then in 1994, I had a whole new reason to love fall, my first baby was born. Cody Garrett was born on the last 'unofficial' day of summer, yes, you guessed it, Labor Day. I could write a thousand blogs about how kids have changed my life, but I am trying to focus on my love of fall. Seeing my favorite season in the eyes of my child, made me fall in love with it all over again. That 'first fall' was kind of a blur, sleep deprived and adjusting to the new stage in my life, that fall moved in to winter before I even realized what happened. By the next fall, I had this lil fella who couldn't wait to ride in the 'bines' with Daddy and Grandpa. We spent many of the next years discovering new traditions like painting pumpkins. Fours years after my first fall harvest of a baby, we did it again, Sam is my October baby, four years later, Jenna and two years after that Seth finished up our run on fall babies.

As the kids have grown, fall has taken on many more new meanings and fun activities. Trick or treating and what was my one sewing project a year for many years, homemade Halloween costumes. The first one I made was Bugs Bunny when Cody was 2. In years since, we have had pirates, Batman and Robin, a knight, a muskateer, several versions of Princesses, Elvis, the Disney character Stitch, cowboys, Darth Vader, baseball players, a witch...........this year so far Seth is going to be a 'bowl of rac-n-roni' (macaroni, if you don't speak Seth-ese) I kinda get sad when I think about that two of my boys of fall are too big to dress up anymore, thankfully Seth and Jenna still enjoy the 'magic' and the nephews and niece are still willing participants in my sewing craziness!

Also as the kids have grown we've added a family activity that at some times of year, all but dominates our lives, first 4H and now FFA. Being farm kids, our kids love their animals and 4H has been the first vehicle for getting the opportunity to show their animals and promote our way of life. Now we don't generally 'show' animals in the fall, but the new 4H year begins in fall, we celebrate 4H week, which by the way is the first week in Ocotober (Sam's birthday week!) and now with having a highschooler, we are part of another farm family tradition in rural America, FFA. Fall is busy in FFA as the kids have their first BIG fundraiser, fruit sales, in which the kids really work hard at since their sales help to pay for their trip to Nat'l convention ALSO in fall (end of October, if you are keeping track).

We love all of these fun great events, its a challenge to juggle it all at a time when harvest at home is in full swing, but after 20 years of marriage, I have found that there is not one part of the 'year' that's not busy with something on this farm, and that's okay, that means we are doing our job, hopefully doing it well! :)

If you are keeping track, harvest, birthdays, 4-H and FFA............think that we are busy? Nope apparently not busy enough...........we participate in one more great 'fall tradition' especially in Centralia, our boys play football! If you had told me several years ago, that I would write about football with love and passion and exclamation points, I would have laughed in your face.............hahahaha, well times change. I LOVE football! I don't know that I will ever get real into college or NFL, but I love me some youth football, so far Cody has played since 7th grade and this year Sam is playing on the 'little league' 6th grade team. I love love LOVE it!!! Yeah I complain with the rest of them the long drives to games, the kids getting home late from practice and I won't even start to describe how much I wish someone would invent something that gets the stink off of shoulder pads! But I can't get enough of Panther football! I am a very proud parent and thrilled that my boys are part of a long standing tradition in our mid Missouri rural town.

When I first heard Kenny's song, it gave me chills, he did a great job of capturing the feelings and emotions of football season and our much loved 'Boys of Fall'

Looking forward to the fourth night of Friday night football while watching the sileage wagons drive by outside my office window this morning,

From Tulip~

Panther Bag

2010-08-05T22:37:00.001-05:00

Panther Bag
Originally uploaded by tulipfarmmom

Since I have started sewing like a mad woman, I have given home made gifts to several friends on their birthdays. This particular tote was made for my friend, Tonya. She and I have gotten to know each other over the years through our kids activities. We sit togther at school concerts, football games and of course wrestling tournaments. I thought this would be a fun tote for her to carry to these events. The squares are 5 inch 'charm squares' I quilted the bag with a lightwweight batting and added extra firm interfacing to the interior to add stiffness. I thought that the Yo-Yo paw print was a fun touch, since our school mascot is the Panthers. It also features a magnetic snap closure and interior pockets. The finished size is approximately 18"x18" so roomy enough for a camera and a book for those long wrestling tournament days or a small umbrella and or mittens and a hat for football games, plus all the usual purse items.
I am sewing alot lately, have many small projects to complete, this one was actually made and given back in March.
Tying up the loose ends of summer,
From Tulip~
KH
:)

Girls Night Out!

2010-07-30T19:47:00.001-05:00

Can Coolies!
Originally uploaded by tulipfarmmom

I love my husband and I love my kids, even if they all drive me crazy from time to time. But I also love my girlfriends and we are having a Girls Night Out this weekend. Billy Currington is a favorite singer of ours and in honor of his new song, 'Pretty Good at Drinking Beer' we decided we needed our beer to look pretty, hence the cute coolie cups. This was a fun quick project, literally took less than 5 minutes a piece to make. I really didn't have a pattern, just used a coolie cup that I had. I flattened it out and placed it on the fabric fold, cut two pieces of fabric and one piece of quilt batting. Then I zigzagged the edges (along what will be the top and the bottom) picked a 'wrong side and sewed up the sides. Cute quick project and I certainly see myself making many more, b/c I know several ppl who are 'Pretty Good at Drinking Beer'
See you tomorrow night Billy,
From Tulip~
KH
:)

Focus on Missouri Agriculture Photo Contest

2010-07-28T09:40:00.001-05:00

Focus on Missouri Agriculture Photo Contest
Originally uploaded by Missouri Agriculture

Since I bought my new camera in June, I simply can't take enough pictures, and of course with it being summer, most of the those pictures are kids and cows. I know that this red calf is something new for regular viewers of our kids with their calves. So here's the story of Rose. Since Jenna has yet to turn 8 and actually officially be in 4H, which by the way, she's getting very tired of waiting on. We have let her have a bottle calf for the last SEVERAL years, I think this might be her 4th one! We've had Lilly, Barbie and Sparkles. This spring we were lucky enough not to have a bucket calf, although Jenna didn't think that was a good thing! So a plea was sent out amongst our cattle friends and a calf was found. Our friends, the Nelsons, had just the thing. No she wasn't a black calf, but Jenna didn't care. All the usual frustrations of trying to get a calf to take the bottle seemed amplified this year, but finally, FINALLY Rose caught on, thanks to much time and patience from our daughter. That will be such a blessing if she continues to have that much patience later in life! Once Rose and Jenna got feeding down, Jenna started training her to wear the halter, and be led. Once those weren't a big deal, they started their daily routine, which generally includes a bath (some days, more than one!) brushing Rose's red coat, applying conditioner and walks around our yard and love LOTS of love. A good friend said some little girls play with dolls, some little girls play with calves and she was right. Our little girl loves Rose with deep true love that is truly beautiful to watch.
Learning how to blog via Flickr this morning,
From Tulip~
KH
:)
PS-- I submitted this photo in the Focus on Missouri Agriculture Photo Contest, hence the title of this entry!

Unanswered Prayers

2010-07-27T09:51:00.002-05:00

Everyone who knows us, knows that Seth was the prayer answered that we never knew we were praying for. What would life be like without our littlest ray of sunshine? I have no idea and nor do I ever want to. This summer is a special one for me. I learned at least a kid or two ago to quite wishing my life away and savor the moments, as they seem to be running past us faster and faster. I try to appreciate the fact that he still likes to come to our room about 2:30 most mornings and spend the rest of the night with us. Although as this mornings crook in my neck would lead one to believe, its not his most enduring quality.

Seth or Seffy Kamps as he has nicknamed himself is a young man with many, many things that just make you fall in love with him over and over! His funny personality, and the man of million faces just screams of that mind blowing sense of humor and fun that will take him so far in this world. He's certainly a 'youngest' child. He is more street smart than any of our other kids. Has 'friends' many years older than he. He has a confidence about him that will take him places that most would only dream to go.
I have been blessed with a special privilege in this life and that is one of a stay at home mom. I have been at home with kids for 16 yrs. I know that many moms don't get this opportunity. While it has its wonderful qualities, its not been all wine and roses. I have gotten my share of criticisms. I didn't do everything exactly like it ought to have been done, but it was me who paid the price, I didn't hire the raising of my kids out to whomever was cheapest and most convenient. Please don't take that as an insult, I am just trying to demonstrate the nasty sorts of comments that I got from time to time. There have been many things that David and I would have love to have done through the years, that we weren't able to do. But there's been one thing that we have done that I am certain without a doubt that we both realize how blessed we've been to be able to do and that was raising our kids and putting them before ourselves always.
Several weeks agao, Seth, Jenna and I were laying on our bed reading and I was lamenting the fact that the two of them no longer would fit in my lap because they were getting so big. Without hestitation my littlest blessed ray of sunshine said, 'I will stay little for you forever' OMG, does that little boy melt your heart?!?! Love you Seffy Kamps and your brothers and your sister.
Not looking forward to the swollen eyes of the first day of school,
From Tulip~
KH
:)

More ReRuns

2010-07-09T18:52:00.002-05:00

Keeping with the idea behind my last blog, here are a few more 'Re-runs' from Facebook. This First was titled 'Yes or No Share' where you were supposed to only say yes or no to a question, but of course you all know me and I did not only say one small word. But some of them were kinda funny, so here goes:

Yes or No SHARE
Wednesday, January 20, 2010 at 12:58pm
You can ONLY answer Yes or No! You are NOT ALLOWED to explain ANYTHING unless someone messages or comments you and Asks! Now, here's what you're supposed to do... And please do not spoil the Fun. Copy and paste this into your notes , delete my answers and type in your answers. Then see what happens.
Kissed any one of your facebook friends? Yes SEVERAL, I am FRIENDLY like that LOL
Kissed someone you didn't like? I liked them at the time
Slept in until 5 PM? Yes worked midnights at MBS
Fallen asleep at work/school? Yes who hasn't, I am sure at school, don' tthink so at work
Held a snake? No not a live one
Ran a red light? Yes mostly likely
Been suspended from school? No but probably should have been if we had gotten caught
Totaled your car/motorbike in an accident? Yes Feb 07
Been fired from a job? No
Sang karaoke? Yes with many Angle cousins after many beers
Done something you told yourself you wouldn't? Yes unfortunately
Laughed until something you were drinking came out your nose? Yes mostly recently thanks to Billy
Caught a snowflake on your tongue? Yes of course
Kissed in the rain? Yes and in a car and on a train in a box in a house, not with a fox or not with a mouse
Sang in the shower? Yes sadly for those within earshot
Sat on a rooftop? Yes not b/c I wanted to I am sure of that
Been pushed into a pool with all your clothes? Yes Thank You Terry Harper!
Broken a bone? Yes random fingers, toes, some strange named one in my lower back when had wreck
Played a prank on someone? Yes fun times!
Felt like killing someone? Yes but I haven't I promise ;)
Made your girlfriend/boyfriend cry? Yes good cry's mostly
Had Mexican jumping beans for pets? No we weren't that cool growing up, lol
Been in a band? No, oh wait school band, not near as cool as the other type
Shot a gun? Yes I would be the daughter of a Marine, HELLO!
Tripped on mushrooms? No never ever even been interested
Eaten alligator meat? No doesn't even sound appealing
Eaten cheesecake? Yes as often as possible
Still love someone you shouldn't? No
Think about the future? Yes everyday, when I look at four little faces
Believe in Love ? Yes I AM in love
Sleep on a certain side of bed? Yes the middle 2/3's

Written about 6 months ago

Nicole Lannert- Umphrey
You didn't follow the directions!!!!! You were supposed to answer YES or NO without any other comments. LOL ;0)
January 30 at 11:01pm

Kathy Angle Hasekamp
have you EVER known me to only say ONE WORD................ I couldn't JUST answer yes or no, there's no story in that! LOL :)
January 30 at 11:02pm

Brent Gibbons
My favorites were the "Green Eggs and Ham" reference on kissed in the rain and certain side of the bed "the middle 2/3s" ha ha. :-)
January 31 at 7:45pm

Kathy Angle Hasekamp
thinking that Sam (I Am) walked through as I was typing that, thus the inspiration and of course your buddy came up with that phrase about the middle 2/3's, I don't know what he's talking about, I just like to sleep close, snuggle, LOL he's a whiner! hee hee
February 1 at 2:22pm

This one was kinda cute, a little cheesy, but not too bad:

STEP ONE: Spell your name with songs.
Karma Charmelon (Boy George, there's an oldie!)
All My Exes Live in Texas (George Strait)
The Fireman (King George AGAIN!)
Highway to Hell (AC/DC)
Lost in Love (Air Supply)
Elvira (Oak Ridge Boys)
Every Step you take (Police)
Nikita (Elton John)

All I Need (Jack Wagner)
Never Say Goodbye (OMG, who sang this, I am getting old and forgetful!)
Nobody in his rightmind would have left her (George Strait, wondering if I could have done this whole thing with his songs?)

Hicktown (Jason Aldean)
Amarillo Sky (Jason Aldean)
Sweet Home Alabama (Lynard Skynard)
Everybody Wants to Rule the World (Tears for Fears)
Keep On Loving you (REO Speedwagon)
Addicted to Love (Robert Palmer)
Maggie May (ROd Stewart)
Panama (Van Halen)

Here was one that was neat. Never thought I was 'well read' but looking at this list, I scored higher than several. The list was neat, it reminded me of several that I WANT to read.
Here goes:

The BBC believes most people will have read only 6 of the 100 books here. How do your reading habits stack up? Instructions: Copy this into your NOTES. Look at the list and put an 'x' after those you have read. Tag other book nerds...
1 Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austenx
2 The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien
3 Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte x
4 Harry Potter series - JK Rowling -
5 To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee x 6 The Bible- X
7 Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte x
8 Nineteen Eighty Four - George Orwell x
9 His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman
10 Great Expectations - Charles Dickens-x
Total: 7 (ha to the BBC, already over THEIR average!)
11 Little Women - Louisa M Alcott -x
12 Tess of the D’Urbervilles - Thomas Hardy
13 Catch 22 - Joseph Heller -
14 Complete Works of Shakespeare- (not fair have read several, just not all!)
15 Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier-
16 The Hobbit - JRR Tolkien -
17 Birdsong - Sebastian Faulk -
18 Catcher in the Rye - JD Salinger -x
19 The Time Traveler’s Wife - Audrey Niffeneggerx
20 Middlemarch - George Eliot
Cumulative Total: 10
21 Gone With The Wind - Margaret Mitchell x
22 The Great Gatsby - F Scott Fitzgerald -
23 Bleak House - Charles Dickens -
24 War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy -
25 The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy -
27 Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky -
28 Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck x
29 Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll -X
30 The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame -
Cumulative Total: 13
31 Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy -x
32 David Copperfield - Charles Dickens -x
33 Chronicles of Narnia - CS Lewis -x
34 Emma-Jane Austen -
35 Persuasion - Jane Austen -
36 The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe - CS Lewis -x
37 The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini -
38 Captain Corelli’s Mandolin - Louis De Bernieres
39 Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden-x
40 Winnie the Pooh - AA Milne -X
Cumulative Total: 19
41 Animal Farm - George Orwell -x
42 The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown -
43 One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez -
44 A Prayer for Owen Meaney - John Irving-
45 The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins -
46 Anne of Green Gables - LM Montgomery-x
47 Far From The Madding Crowd -
Thomas Hardy- 48
The Handmaid’s Tale - Margaret Atwood -
49 Lord of the Flies - William Golding -
50 Atonement - Ian McEwan-
Cumulative Total: 21
51 Life of Pi - Yann Martel-
52 Dune - Frank Herbert -
53 Cold Comfort Farm - Stella Gibbons-
54 Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen-x
55 A Suitable Boy - Vikram Seth -
56 The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon -
57 A Tale Of Two Cities - Charles Dickens -X
58 Brave New World - Aldous Huxley -
59 The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night - Mark Haddon-
60 Love In The Time Of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez -x
Cumulative Total: 24
61 Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck - x
62 Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov -
63 The Secret History - Donna Tartt
64 The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold
65 Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas-x
66 On The Road - Jack Kerouac -
67 Jude the Obscure - Thomas Hardy -
68 Bridget Jones’s Diary - Helen Fielding-x
69 Midnight’s Children - Salman Rushdie -
70 Moby Dick - Herman Melville -x
Cumulative Total: 28
71 Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens-x
72 Dracula - Bram Stoker -
73 The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnettx
74 Notes From A Small Island - Bill Bryson -
75 Ulysses - James Joyce -
76 The Inferno – Dante -
77 Swallows and Amazons - Arthur Ransome -
78 Germinal - Emile Zola -
79 Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackeray-
80 Possession - AS Byatt –
Cumulative Total: 30
81 A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens -X
82 Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell -
83 The Color Purple - Alice Walker -X 84
The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro -x
85 Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert -
86 A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry -
87 Charlotte’s Web - EB White -x
88 The Five People You Meet In Heaven - Mitch Albom -x
89 Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle-
90 The Faraway Tree Collection - Enid Blyton-
Cumulative Total: 34
91 Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad -
92 The Little Prince - Antoine De Saint-Exupery -
93 The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks -
94 Watership Down - Richard Adams -
95 A Confederacy of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole -
96 A Town Like Alice - Nevil Shute -
97 The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas -
98 Hamlet - William Shakespeare-x
99 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl-x
100 Les Miserables - Victor Hugo-
Cumulative Total: 36
Grand Total: 36

Okay hopefully next week will yield the opportunity for a 'real' blog. We are amidst fair cattle showing season at our house and that is very time consuming, besides show day there's generally a preparation day and a clean-up after day, which means missing 3 days of doing whatever, and of course that means catching up on the in between ones........ I wouldn't miss this time for the world as I know it will soon enough be a memory. Hope everyone else is having a great summer, I know we are.

Getting ready for the fair~
From Tulip~
KH
:)

Summer Re-runs

2010-07-02T12:35:00.002-05:00

Now with cable TV where 'seasons' run year-round and there's always a new season of something on, there's a younger generation of ppl who have no idea what summer re-runs are. They are the same people who have no idea what it is to wait for Saturday morning for cartoons, don't know life with internet, cell phones and iPods. They are also the same ones who can usually fix my computer, cell phone and iPod (if I had one of my own).
I love my kids very much and they are the reason that I am busy ALL THE TIME. And probably why I don't blog as often as I would like to. But they are certainly 'inspiration' for many of my blogs. With that thought in mind and the fact that not everyone is on Facebook, although I think it might down to Mom and David by end of summer, I thought I would publish a few 'Facebook notes' here on my blog. Notes are sort of a Facebook version of a blog, but on there you invite ppl to read your note, by tagging them, hence the social networking underlying theme of Facebook. Here are a few:

"25 things" is a popular Note that ppl make. Right before Mothers Day this year I wrote:
Okay since Mother's Day is coming up soon and my good friend mentioned the other day how she missed all of us writing those '25 things' note, I decided to start one. I am gonna write 25 things about my kids, tag 25 other moms and challenge them to do the same thing! Here goes: 1. I love you, Cody Garrett, Samuel Earl, Jenna Claire and Seth William, with a love so fierce it sometimes scares even me, anyone ever tried to hurt my kids and I am pretty sure I can scare them as well! 2. The other day while Seth and Jenna were snuggling with me on my lap, I said I was sad that they were getting big and soon wouldn't both fit. Seth instantly promised to stay little forever! I love that kid! 3. I am amazed by Cody's hands, first those little newborn borny hands, before they get any fat on them and you can feel bones in the palms of their hands, now a mere 16 years later, his finger are each at least an inch longer than mine. 4. Sam's drive and determination is something that I find both frustrating and mindblowing. You can see it in the things that he does. I love to take a picture of him at the beginning of a wrestling match, just so I can remember the look. 4. I already know that Jenna will be a great mom. She's Seth's mother hen, she takes care of her calf so tenderly. Her attention to detail will take her far in this world. 5. Seth has surprised me from the beginning. He just keeps evolving everyday into the neatest little kid, I love his sense of humor and his sweetness. 6. My most favorite sound in the entire world bar none is that of my children laughing together. 7. We might live far out in the country without any close neighbors. But you know none of my kids are ever bored, there's always someone to play with, sure they fight and argue like all siblings but mostly they don't and I so glad that they are each others' friend. 8. I love that they have nicknames--Twig, Bubba, Sis, and Fred.......I love that they call each other those names, we do it, and those around us do. 9. I love that I can look in my kitchen sink and tell who ate what when I have been gone. They each have their own things they love. And I am also glad that they mostly pick up after themselves. 10. I love to ask Jenna the question, 'What did you think about (fill in the blank) I am always entertained by her take on things, the tidbits that she thinks to share are price-less. 11. I love the look of little boys who come in my house dirty from playing outside all day. 12. I love that Cody is a 'sponge' as Mrs W called him in Kindergarten, she is right. He can't learn enough, I love to watch him pouring over a book, sports statistcs or whatever he happens to be studying. 13. I love the pictures that are in my minds eye of my kids, like, when they were teeny tiny and had been asleep laying on my chest while we were both napping in the recliner and they would wake up and look up at me or now that they are bigger and we are at a cattle show and everyone is walking together to the show ring. 14. My heart just swells watching them get to new milestones, I might be crying like a baby, but you can bet they are happy tears. 15. I love how they look when they are asleep, that innocence that they had as babies that I hope never totally leaves them. 16. I love when they fall asleep in my lap, yeah there's only two who still do that, and mostly there's only one, but I love when it happens and pray it happens again. 17. They all four have their likes and dislikes and the variety that brings is the spice of my life. 18. I love Sam's nurturing spirit, examples that I love the most are things like watching him put on and tie Seth's shoes or when he helped Jenna learn to ride a 2 wheeled bike. 19. I love hugs. I love kisses. I love 'thank you mom' I love 'I love you mom' 20. I love being the mom of four kids. We women are a special group, some of you are ahead of me on this journey, some are behind me, but only moms of 4 kids get the true meaning of group mentality! Love you ladies! 21. I love the ball games that go on in my yard almost daily for about 8 months out of the year, the type of ball doesn't matter, the teams don't matter, everyone plays. 22. It makes me sad to think how empty my life would have been without kids. They have taught me so much. I am blessed. 23. I love that I can't always remember what happened last week, but the memory of my kids being born is as clear as it happened yesterday. 24. As a mom, while holidays like Christmas and Easter are still pretty great, for me the four greatest days of the year are Sept 5, Oct 6, Nov 1 and Nov 2. 25. Again I say I love you, Cody, Sam, Jenna and Seth, with a love that so deep that it has no end.

Here is a recipe I shared on Facebook for Blueberry Cobbler, which reminds me once again that I need to get over to our friends' and pick blueberries! The kids love them and I never seem to get there, maybe once each year. (Hope to see you soon Cindy!)
The recipe:
I found this recipe the other day on my search to find a diabetic recipe. David is on board that meets monthly and one of the members is diabetic, so if I send something, I always try to send something that he can eat as well. I didn't name the recipe, the submitter did, but they are right it's really good. Here goes: 2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries 1 1/2 tsp vanilla Juice of one lemon 1 c Splenda or to taste (I bet with fresh berries, you wouldn't need that much) 1 tsp flour 1 tsp butter, melted 1 3/4 c flour 4 tsp baking powder 6 Tbsp splenda 5 Tbsp butter (softened works best) 1 c milk 2 tsp splenda 1 pinch of cinnamon Lightly grease baking dish I used the Pampered Chef oval one that is probably 8 inches wide and maybe 12 inches long, I think that a 8x8 would be too small and a 9x13 would be too big. Place berries in dish, mix with vanilla and lemon juice. Sprinkle with 1 c splenda and 1 tsp flour, t hen stir in 1 Tbsp melted butter. Set aside. In a medium bowl stir together 1 3/4 c flour, baking powder, and 6 Tbsp of Splenda. Rub in butter using your fingers (which is what I did) or cut in with a pastry blender, until it is in small pieces. Make a well in the center and quickly stir in the milk. Mix until just moistened. You should have a thick batter or very wwet dough. Cover and let better rest for 10 minutes. Preheat oven at 375 degrees. Spoon batter over the berries, leaving only a few small holes for the batter to peek through. Mix together the last splenda and cinnamon and sprinkle on the top. Bake for 20-25 minutes. Can be stored in the fridge for up to 2 days, but it didn't last that long at my house. Enjoy!

Okay here's another '25 Random Things' note:
1. I love baseball, everything about it, growing up listening to Jack Buck with my Grandma Angle, the smell of the leather of gloves and balls, to pitching to my kids in the yard, to it's "evil twin" softball, a cold beer at the game and the sound of cleats on a hard floor. 2. I love to do all things with reckless abandon, sew till I am out of thread, read a good book till dawn, cook till I have till go to the grocery store for more food and enjoy every opportunity that life has to offer, we only get one chance, gotta make it count. 3. I love that all four of my kids think they are my favorite and they are for different reasons. Cody for his budding dry sarcastic humor, Sam for his sense of fun and competitiveness, Jenna for her deep compassion, and Seth for his innocent sweetness and affection for everyone. 4. I wish I had realized when I was younger how precious time is, to be spent with those you love, to make a few better choices, and to use my time wiser. 5. I like nothing better than to have an absolute blast with my friends. I am thankful that I have several and wish that I spent more time with them. 6. Laughing till you cry or till something comes out your nose has got to be one of lifes greatest pleasures. 7. I have recently started walking, and can't walk enough, I did three times yesterday ( probably back to the comment on doing things with reckless abandon, 7miles total) and already have this morning, hope to get in shape, and kick it up a notch, maybe I will jog or run. 8. I smile when I see, my kids laughing together, baby calves, buckets of veggies from the garden, Christmas TV shows advertised, notes in my inbox on here, family chowing down on a gob of food I cooked, my nephews, my niece. 9. I am so unorganized, I wish I was better at it, another one of those things that the whole reckless abandon has affect on, wish I could organize with reckless abandon, guess you can't have everything. 10. There are four things that I could drink till it ran out my ears--Sweet Tea, Mt Dew, Bud Light and Smirnoff Ice, and I am not worried in the least that two are alcoholic and the other two are full of caffeine. 11. I want to get my kids a puppy, not that we don't have plenty (probably too many) dogs as it is, I just think that every kid should have a puppy once in their life and living on the farm, we get everyone else's cast-off that already grown. 12. I could probably take a vacation every three or four months if we could afford it, there are so many places I want to see, places I have been I want my kids to see. 13. As much as I enjoy being at home with my kids, I sometimes long for the days when I worked, I miss being around alot of people, I loved decorating the furniture store, setting up displays, selling, man I liked selling stuff, maybe I will go back next year when Seth starts school, not sure yet. 14. I love that I can go for months (and sadly it's been that long a few times) without talking to my best friend and within seconds we are right back to giggling and bs-ing like we have since we were kids. 15. I envy people who look put together all the time, like it is so effortless, maybe it is for them, it sure isn't for me, I hate that I sometimes go places looking like a bum, I don't think about it till I am somewhere, then I just get frustrated, I have been trying in the last few years to be better about that. 16. I wish I could play the piano, was more musical in general, maybe even have a singing voice that I was willing to use, other than drunk kareoke with the Angle cousins, you know who you are and what we always have to sing...... 17. I am thankful to live in a country where I am free to do what I want, when I want, with whomever I wish and I am thankful to my family who have served and are serving in the world's greatest military to give me that right. I don't think we are as grateful as we should be. 18. Nothing makes my blood boil worse than irresponsible adults, think about mostof the pet peeves you have with ppl, most of those go back to being irresponsible about some thing, how tough is it folks, suck it up and do the right thing. 19. Saying that someone is closed minded because they have different views that you do is about the most lame thing that I have ever heard of, and is particularly pitiful when it comes out of the mouth of a so called education person. I am not closed minded because I don't agree with you, I just have a different opinion based a different perspective and different life experiences, just sayin'. 20. While I am on the subject of views, shoving yours down my throat makes me only disagree even more, I hope I never push my views on others, and nothing is more irritating in my opinion. you believe this or that good for you, noted, now move on. 21. I wish there were enough hours in the day to read all the books that I would like to read. 22. Every person on my Christmas list is getting something handmade, not saying what since a few of them are on facebook. :) Mostly because I have gotten to the point in my life where 'it's the thought that counts' is the ONLY thing that counts to me anymore, so sick of commercialized see what all you can buy Christmases, so not what it's about. 23. This is the happiest time of year to me, I love fall, I probably almost decorate more for it than Christmas, all of my babies have their birthdays now, I love harvest, football, craft shows, bonfires, raking leaves..........love love love FALL! 24. I love about anything baked, but only while it's fresh out of the oven, I will practically burn my mouth on a cookie, after it's cooled, eh, could take it or leave it. 25. I say that I procrastinate because I work well under pressure, that is just bullshit, because if it's something that I really want to do, it's the first thing that I do and I think that is true about all people. (okay I had a hard time coming up with 25 things and everyone knows how I like to talk/blog/whatever)

Okay maybe I will get a chance to write a 'real/new' blog soon. But fair season is upon us and since I don't have a laptop and wireless internet, it is liable to be awhile. Those who are my facebook friend and have already read those, sorry. Those who haven't hope you don't get mind already been written notes/blogs.

On the 'Eve' of Independence Day weekend (and three days till MY birthday~
From Tulip~
KH
:)

What a Week!

2010-05-01T10:14:00.003-05:00

Our life with four kids is rarely dull. As one would imagine. Oh some weeks we might have just a few extra-curricular school activities and maybe a church event. But those are once in a blue moon kind of weeks. This last week wasn't one of those weeks, nor will the following weeks be. Until school gets out, we have LOTS going on.

This last week has been busy. Monday David returned from a trip to Texas for his Uncle Wayne's funeral. We will miss him so much, but know that his hurt is gone for him. Monday was the Reading Assembly at Chance Elementary. Jenna received her 1000 minute reading award. As a first grader, alot of those minutes are still ones read by mom, but she probably read 1/3 to 1/2 of the minutes herself. Tuesday was kind of quiet. Wednesday was filled with 'restocking' supplies. Buying groceries and household items for this household, is a fair size job as well. Thursday was spent going to the dentist. David, Jenna and Seth all went. Also Sam's class had a field trip to the zoo, which meant a trip back into town later to pick him up. Friday was very eventful. It was the last day of Preschool which meant the picnic. Since we've had so much rain and he wasn't super busy, David went along. I think he was glad he went. He visited with some of the other dads. It was to be our last Preschool Picnic, kinda bittersweet. Last night was the FFA banquet. I am such a baby. Why do I cry at that stuff? Cody got medals and awards and yeah sure that was cool, but seriously, tears? Geesh, anyway we are very proud of his accomplishments. Got a pin for Knowledge Team, got a medal for Diversified Farm Operation. And the highlight of the night for us, he was awarded the Star Greenhand Award. This is the highest award a chapter can bestow upon a Freshman. Yes we are VERY proud.

The coming week holds many more memory making moments and probably be many more tears for me. Some of the coming things are.

Tomorrow is Seth's preschool program and graduation. Monday night is Sam's Fine Arts night. Let me throw in here that Sam is blowing me away lately with his improvement playing the trumpet! WOW! Sounds great!!!! Tuesday night is 'Kindergarten Here We Come' this is the finale in all the preparations that our local Parents as Teachers program puts on for the children coming into Kindergarten this fall. We will tour the school, ride a school bus and do all those last minute preparations to get Seth signed up for school. Wednesday being the first Wednesday of the month, means 4H for our household. Even that meeting is over the top, there will be a foods project meeting beforehand, Clover Kids also beforehand, Show Me Quailty Assurance qualification class AND movie night, maybe we will get our business meeting squeezed in somewhere. Thursday so far is open. Friday is 5th Grade Civil War Day. Sam fit into the Civil War Officer Jacket that I made Cody 4 years ago and is on the same side again, so that was helpful!

As you can see like I said at the top life with four kids is rarely dull, but it also means being blessed four times over and for that it is all more than worth it! Love you, Cody, Sam, Jenna and Seth.

Listening to the birds sing outside my office window,

From Tulip~

Growing Great Memories

2010-04-11T00:11:00.003-05:00

http://www.mostatefair.com/

When I received the email as an official Fair Fan a few weeks ago, I got such a lump in my throat. This year's Missouri State Fair slogan is 'Growing Great Memories' oh so appropriate! I just love it and I have been thinking about blogging this since I saw it and for some reason today I just couldn't get my mind off of it.

For me Missouri State Fair holds so many memories. As a child I remember going to the fair for a day. All the sights and sounds overwhelm my senses if I just close my eyes and remember back. As a child you just suffered through all the walking through a million buildings that you could care less about for that finale of the day, the Midway! The tilt a whirl, the fun houses, the 'Himalaya' and I could go on and on.

Then there are State Fair concerts, some of the early ones I remember are Beach Boys (my mom and dads favorite) Alabama (Randy Owens was a first crush I think) and as the years went on Hank Jr. and of course my man George Strait.

There were the years that I went for several days with my BFF Michelle, we stayed with her Grandparents in their camper. Explored the fair for the first time by ourselves. Went to see T Graham Brown in the Bud Tent, we thought we were cool to be there, since we were about 14, LOL.

As I got older in HS went a few years with friends and a boyfriend or two, more concerts, the Midway............but little did I know what a special place the Missouri State Fair would hold in my heart and that place was getting ready to firmly plant itself in my soul as my journey to 'growing up' was about to conclude.

At the end of my Senior Year in HS I started dating David. His family has a great heritage of times spent at the State Fair, although their experience was much different than my own, I soon learned to love and look forward to that change in my life.

MSF of 1989, is where it all officially began. Just a week before the fair, I began college at NWMSU, in Maryville, MO. I have no idea what possessed me to think that a college four hours away from was a wise choice (okay yeah I do know, but not going there) But alas, I had just spent my first week at college and was missing my sweetie something awful. So Akemi (my roommate, now my relative) and I drove from Maryville down to the fair. Us two 'town/city' girls got broke into what being a state fair exhibitor was like. A world within the fair that neither of us had ever known. Fun times amongst our group that camped together from water fights at the wash racks, short sheeting beds, the famous drop a rubber spider in front of people walking through the barns and so much more. We had the greatest time at the fair that year. I was hanging out with my sweetie and conveniently his cousin Dale Toedebusch was there as well and Kem and Dale met (the rest wasn't history till the next weekend when I had car trouble driving back to school and they came to rescue me, but thats a whole 'nother story)

I really couldn't say if it was the last night there or not, but one night while walking around the fairgrounds with David, we decided to rest/sit for awhile. Now David grew up going to the fair and he knows his way around the fairground fairly well. Packed fairgrounds no place to sit.......nope not a problem. So as we sat on some FFA kids' trailer/fair exhibit we talked about life, love and other stuff. I was painfully homesick and really hating the choice that I had made to be away from home and him. And while sitting there on that flat bed trailer, David said the words that would forever change both of our lives. That night he told me how much he loved me and reassured me that that fact would never change and then said the words I will get down on one knee right here and propose right now if you need me to. I knew I loved him for about three months before that, was pretty sure I wasn't going anywhere away from him wither for about that long, but that moment in time will forever be etched in my mind. It wasn't the official proposal, that happened about 4 months later. But that memory to me is almost as precious.

Well by the time State Fair rolled around the next year, we were 'old married folk' celebrating our one month anniversary right there at the fair! :) For the next few years we went with David's sisters for at least part of the time that they were up there showing or met friends and attended more concerts (shout out here to Mark and Tammi Miller, wasn't Huey Lewis a great concert?)

State Fair time 1994 was a time of great anticipation for us, Cody was due at anytime. That is the only year since we've married that we didn't go at all. I was swollen up like a tick and sitting at home in the air conditioner with my feet up was about my favorite hobby. The next 8 years saw us attend the fair anywhere from a day to several days. There was a year in there that saw me as a very pregnant State Fairgoer when Sam was on the way. Many more memories of fun times spent in the cattle barns, sitting around camp, Sam's first tractor pull, where in utero he didn't care for the vibrations coming from the loud engines.

As the years went by there was sort of a changing of the guard, David's sisters got 'too old' to exhibit just as Cody got old enough to exhibit. Our first year at the State Fair as a cattle exhibiting family was spent with a 8 yr old, his 2 hiefers, lil brother who enjoyed playing with his tractors in the sand of the floor of the barn and our lil bucket baby.

Jenna was 9 mos. old and not walking and was SO LITTLE it was really kinda hard to find a good place for her to enjoy the fair. As a joke one day David stood her in a 5 gallon bucket and she loved it. She was little enough that she could sit down in the bucket and play with a toy or stand up and be cute for all the passersby. Within probably half a day word spread and Bucket Baby of the Angus Barn stole the show from all of the high dollar black hided exhibits. She was a star!

There have been so many more memories at the Missouri State Fair. I think of the ones with my kids as the most precious. Taking the stroller to the shower house when I had two very little ones to get bathed. Cooking supper at the camp which was right by the cattle tie-outs and smiling proudly as practically every exhibitor who was exercising their cattle would stop by and ask when supper would be ready. We have our State Fair friends, ones that it seems like we never get around to seeing but during that week of our pilgrimmage to the fair. There are so many traditions that are engrained in the souls of myself, my husband and our kids that absolutely personify 'Growing Great Memories' that makes that lump in my throat all the bigger. Four months from today we will be packing up and heading to fair. The fair is full of endings like the show season and summer and beginnings with the school year right after and definitely full of memories.

Wiping a tear which seems to be a regular occurance while blogging,

From Tulip~

Projects, lots of projects

2010-04-02T13:15:00.003-05:00

If anyone follows this blog anymore, I am sure you are in total shock that I am actually blogging today. It's been 4 months, how sad that is. I told myself at the beginning of 2010 I was going to start blogging again regularly and here it is April, every four months, hmmmmm, I really had in mind SLIGHTLY more often than that, but life just keeps happening and I just don't get it all done.
I don't get it all done because one of my favorite mantras should probably be why finish a project when you can start a new one, thanks Meredith! ;)
Lately I have been sewing up a storm. I have made a few projects for friends. So far towards Christmas I have completed a quilt top for Cody, started one for Sam, relocated and reworked one that I am planning to give Jenna and purchased the fabric for Seth's. I think that MY KIDS should really probably be one of the recipents of my hard labor.
Made a totally cute quilt for my Aunt O, in remembrance of her 60th birthday which was in February! Too cute, if I wasn't so lazy I would post the picture, maybe another day. We have several young people who are special to us, who are graduating from high school and college this spring, so graduation quilts are in process, wish me luck, I just may have bit off more than I can chew on that one.
I have big plans for sewing including a quilt for our bed, I am calling it our 20th wedding anniversary gift, but secretly hoping we get to go somewhere for our anniversary and that the quilt isn't the only gift, especially since who knows if I will actually complete it BY our anniversary! There are many other projects that I hope to do as well.
I am truly loving the time I am spending sewing. I definitely think I have addictive personality, I may not smoke or drink, but fabric is my vice!!! LOL
Besides sewing, I am making plans to do some painting and updating in our house! I have paint purchased to do our bathroom, kitchen back splash area and want to possibly do some decorative painting in Jenna's room. Along with the updates, I have some ideas in mind for some meaningful wall art. I have made some yo-yo's that I am planning to arrange like a flag to hang in our room and tie in with the new quilt and bedding(planning to make some pillows too!) I have some antique postcards that belonged to David's great uncle Bill (Seth William's namesake) that are 4th of July ones and a few Memorial Day ones that I am wanting to frame for a picture in our Dining Room. And I have been thinking of some way to preserve a family heirloom from my side of the family and I think I have finally come up with the idea. I have pictures of Mom, Jenna and I each at about a year and a half old, all wearing the same dress. I want to frame the three pictures AND the dress for a piece of wall art/ family history. I even wrote a poem to add to the picture. I am not sure this is the final copy, but here's the rough draft:
The Little Blue Dress

Purchased and worn on a very special day,
In 1950 in the month of May.
Bright blue cotton, in the back, a bow.
Sweetly trimmed in lace for a little show.
Kids do lots and especially grow,
It makes Moms sad, for this they know
With future dreams, it’s packed away
To be worn again, on some future day.
Granddaughter came with eyes of blue
Grandma said, she’ll wear that dress too!
Laundered and pressed, ready to go
Over the head and tie the bow.
Pictures taken and memories made
Captured in time before they fade.
Packed up away, saved and treasured
For a mothers love cannot be measured.
Would we see it again, who’s to know?
Such a cute little dress, tied with a bow.
Grandkids finished up just in time,
Great grandkids came right along, next in line
First a son, then another
Soon enough, they’re both big brothers
More blonde hair and eyes of blue
Absolutely! She will wear the dress too!
Love’s passed on, once again
Where’s it end? Where’s it begin?
To the daughter from the mother
Four generations, love one another.

Okay so it's Good Friday, we have eggs to color, a few chores to finish and lots of fun to have. Wishing you and yours a Blessed Easter weekend. Hoping to get back here very soon.
Until we meet again,
From Tulip~
KH
:)

Homemade Christmas Gifts, 2009 version

2009-12-04T21:06:00.002-06:00

This year I decided that partly because of the hub bub and hype of Christmas and the focus on the materialistic things, AND shortage of CASH; I am making GOBS of the Christmas gifts we are giving. This fall Seth started preschool and goes Monday-Wednesday-Friday mornings. Well in effort to save gas, get in shape and accomplish the goal of homemade gifts, this is my morning routine. Drop off all four kids, yes at four different buildings, then drive to the quilt shop. It doesn't open till 9AM and I get done dropping off kids about 8:20, so I walk for about 40 minutes, which is around 2.5 miles. Then after the quilt shop opens, I take my sewing machine and whatever project that I am working on in and sew for a little over 2 hours each of those mornings. This has allowed me to make a Quilt for 'Festival of Sharing' that I donated in October, birthday gifts for two of my sisters-in-law, clothes for Jenna and Trinity (by Christmas they will have 3 matching outfits, a blue, tan and pink jumper each!) And some kind of sewn gift for basically everyone on our Christmas list. Since I can't remember who all follows this blog, I am not going to be specific. :)

The two pictures added to this post are a pillow I made to participate in the Christmas Challenge at the Quilt Shop, it will be a gift, if I can stand to give it away. The focus fabric is the ivory fabric with the pine branches and navy ornaments on it, I couldn't get real excited about it, so just added it into a project that I had been wanting to try. The Tree Quilt Square isn't totally original, another customer at the Quilt Shop made a BEAUTIFUL QUILT from a pattern sold there and I just fell in love with it, but decided that I could figure out a basic square similar to the one featured, so that was my attempt.

The other picture of the Christmas Stocking was a donated project as well. Material Girl Quilt Shop and Prairie Queen Quilting are sponsoring a service project where they challenged us to create a homemade stocking and donate it, they will in turn fill all donated stockings and give them to kids in need in our local area. For donating the stocking, we get to put our name in a drawing for a chance to win $50 in free quilting on our next project! So it's a win-win thing.

I am donating one other thing this holiday season. Those who follow this blog may remember the coloring book bags that I made and gave to Seth and Jenna for Valentines Day this year. I have made 10 more this year (all totally out of my fabric stash!). I bought Crayons when they were cheap at Back to School time and also purchased coloring books recently to put inside them. They are being donated to 'Christmas is Caring' which is a charity group in Paris, MO that our church helps out with.

Well if I am going to complete all of these projects, I should probably close this message. I hope to add more pictures of projects that I am working before Christmas, but who knows, it sure gets busy around the holidays. In case I don't get back here to my blog and if I don't get another chance, I would like to wish you and yours a blessed Christmas Season from me and the blessings in my life, my wonderful husband, David, and the four lights of our lives, Cody, Sam, Jenna and Seth.

Merry Christmas,

From Tulip~

More Pictures and Updates

2009-11-12T16:02:00.003-06:00

Since it was pointed out that I failed to make any mention of having a daughter, thought that I would mention that yes Jenna still lives here with us, much to her dismay somedays. I think she would move in with Rosel and her sheep at any given moment if given the chance. Although we scored fairly well at her birthday, she got to have a party with her friends, (see picture if it uploaded) also got a pair of Pink Justin Gypsies for her birthday, in laymans terms cowboy boots, which is the ONLY thing that has been on her feet since. She's having a great year at school, blowing me away with how quickly she's learning to read (thank goodness!) talks alot about a little boy named Lance, but he's not her boyfriend! :) And she's patiently awaiting turning 8 (just turned 7 on the 1st of Nov) because she knows that 8 is the magic age of being in 4H which she has waited her whole life to be in! Then she can FINALLY show cattle, no more of this bottle calf and sheep showing stuff, she'll be in the big leagues and Cody and Sam look out! Alas one more summer of bottle calves and lambs, and yes she's already asked if there is any calves that need a momma! OMG ;)

Also if they upload, I added a picture of Cody IN his Football uniform, playing in the marching band at halftime of the game the other night. And I think you are seeing a picture of Dad and I at the Veterans Ceremony yesterday.......for some reason however I used to upload pictures onto this blog easily in the past isn't working so well today.

Well it looks like there MIGHT be pictures on this post, so from Tulip~

Happy Veterans Day!

2009-11-11T16:51:00.002-06:00

Today was a really great one! Sam's school honored Veteran's with the 'Old Glory' project. Each student picked a veteran who was special to them and wrote them a letter. It told them why they wanted to honor them. And it also invited them to a Ceremony held at Sam's school today. Sam picked Dad. During the ceremony he presented him with a Flag that he had written a short essay on the 'white stripes' about what Freedom means to him. This was just an awesome event. Complete with the local VFW presenting the colors, the 5th graders sang America the beautiful. Mrs Dickerson the Social Studies teacher had several students read their letters aloud and the essays they wrote on the flags. What a wonderful tribute to all veterans, I can't imagine spending Veterans Day any other way!

Quick update on the life at Hasekamps~

Football is still in full swing! Our varsity is ranked #1 in the State and is in the process of making their way to the state championships! All of the boys get to dress out, the entire JV and Freshman teams, so Cody is on the sidelines and we are in the stands. He also plays on the Marching Band at halftime. Speaking of Cody since Band and Football don't

keep him busy enough, he's also in FFA and went to the national convention in October which was in Indianapolis, IN. Had a great time there I think, his story he enjoys sharing the most is that 'Mike Rowe of Dirty Jobs (cable TV show)' was the opening session speaker and he thought he was amazing!

Sam has started wrestling season. (Cody is too old for club, and also decided to not wrestle in HS, which actually now that I am over it, is okay, less driving)

Cody got his permit, that's been interesting, and I will leave it at that.

Seth is going to preschool three mornings a week. (I am sewing at the Quilt shop while he's there, saves gas driving back and forth and wait till everyone sees at Christmas what all I have made!)

David is done harvesting beans, they are shelling corn now, running behind but October was SO WET, it couldn't be helped.

Would like to blog longer, but 4H is tonight and there's no missing, as this year I am the Community leader aka for in charge..........

Till next time,

From Tulip~

My new purse

2009-07-25T14:57:00.001-05:00

Inspired by beautiful purses made by my friend, Lori (her blog: http://www.girlsinthegarden.blogspot.com/ ) I decided after spending way too much on yet another blog, which is http://www.modabakeshop.com/ to make the 'Charming Handbag'.

I needed a purse to match my outfit for this evening. It's my 20 year class reunion. (matching accessories are important for these events, LOL) I had purchased a 'charm pack' (for the uneducated on these things, its a packet of precut fabric squares, 5" all from the same line of fabric, so beautifully coordinated!) My original intention for purchasing this was that I have a wedding next spring, daughter of a friend and I thinking about a quilt for the gift. Like paint at my house fabric has to live with me awhile and age, then it can become something.

I shopped this week for a new outfit for the aforementioned reunion and came up with something, out of character for in that it's 'frilly and girlie' but I will live........ It's a cute top in teals, taupes, cream and brown with a little yellow and green. Bought some cream colored tailored capris to go with and a cute necklace.......... I am a HUGE purse ADDICT and really looked for a purse to go with it, but since this outfit isn't the usual 'Kathy' fare......... sturdy and leather didn't seem to go.......so I had decided, oh well...........until........

I was on the Moda website (again for those who don't already know, Moda is a brand name of fabric, one I have come intimately acquainted with via Material Girl Quilt Shop!!! YAY MEREDITH!!!) Anyway, I saw the CUTE CUTE CUTE Charming Handbag on there and decided to give it a whirl. Now I did some altering of the pattern, instead 16 4" squares, I did 9 5" squares and I didn't put the plastic piece in the bottom and only used quilt batting for interior stiffness, whatever you call that......... anyway this also marking to firsts for me......machine quilting and having an appealing result and I actually used pins during most of the times that it was suggested and yes I think it probably made it all come out much better, most of my points meet, no easing of the extra fabric was needed, etc.........

I am excited to use my new purse. Speaking of using it, I have a reunion to get ready for.

Until next time,

From Tulip~

PS--yes I added a button to the front after the picture was taken and the Moda fabric line that most of this purse is made of is Moda's Figgy Pudding, which is actually a Christmas line, ok, gotta go!!!! :)

Centralia Fair Cattle Show, July 11th

2009-07-15T23:52:00.005-05:00

Since pictures uploading seems to be a challenge, I am going to hope that the ones I am currently trying upload happen........ I will randomly describe them as goodness knows that however I tried to upload them, chances are they will be in no particular order......
Seth and Jenna were 2 of about 10 open bottle calf class exhibitors, this is a great class to watch and the judge really made it great. It's so cool that the kids who aren't even old enough to show want to and do, but the judge took his microphone out to the arena and asked the questions and we heard their responses! TOO CUTE!!! Now Seth isn't quite as gungho as Jenna and still needs Sam to help him, but he's getting there. Jenna of course is a 'pro' and was mad at her daddy for not letting her pull the legs, which is cattle show slang for 'fitting/grooming' her calf....... She's a mess. Her black eye that she received earlier in the week was about gone. (Story: she fell, sppoked the calf who kicked, you get the picture, no broken bones or eye injuries! Thankfully!!!)
The boys did great with their heifers and steers. Sam's heifer won her class over some older, bigger entries, but the judge liked how his was built! That's cool! Cody's heifer was competing against a high dollar heifer (too long of a story for this blog) so she placed right where she should have in the class. Sam's Angus Steer was in the middle of his class, might have placed higher if the judge hadn't had to watch him run around the ring, remember his name is 'Play' and for good reason. Their crosbred steers won their classes and came in right below two REALLY HIGH DOLLAR steers, so for what we paid, they did GREAT!!! It was a good night. Looking forward to this weekend and showing at Audrain County.
From Tulip~
KH

PS--almost a hour later, only one pic uploaded, sorry, maybe I will have better luck later. :)

Pictures from today, take 2

2009-07-05T22:50:00.003-05:00

(Samuel Earl Hasekamp, newest member of Tulip Christian Church!)

So that didn't work..........

I tried to add pictures from Facebook onto blogger, supposedly it works, but you can't prove it by me, I think onc eupon a time, I did it, but I can't seem to make it work tonight, so uploading one the slow/old fashioned way........ so now I will ramble on to kill time, while I wait to see if it uploaded THIS time........... (BTW, Brit, you with faster internet and probably more computer skills and a blog of your own, TRY this importing pics thing sometime, then you can teach me! PLEASE!!!!!)

No picture yet, okay to describe the picture you may or may not end up seeing that is supposed to accompany this post. It is one taken of Sam right after he was baptised today. For those who don't know the whole story and since I apparently have time..........

This spring our Pastor, Shelia Christy, started a class for kids thinking about joining the church. Sam was the youngest in it, but went to the classes. They concluded about the first of June and on Father's Day, Sam went up and made his confession of faith and decided to be baptised. Well Tulip CC doesn't have a baptismal, so we planned to do this at Sturgeon CC, where I was baptised and the church I grew up in. (David was 'sprinkled' or Christened as a baby as they went to a UCC church at that time.) So today, Sam was baptised at Sturgeon Christian Church, the same as me, and the church David and I got married in. Nice to have all those milestones in a memorable place. Sturgeon CC has a special place in my heart, and today was just another new chapter. (okay looks like you have a picture now at the top)

Well this week has several to-do's to complete.............so I am going to close and go to bed EARLY, at least early for me.......

From Tulip~

Trying something new

2009-07-05T22:28:00.002-05:00

I think I have figured out how to import pics from Facebook onto Blogger....... waiting for the pic to get here..... not sure it worked, going to 'publish' and see if it shows up.......
Crossing my fingers,
From Tulip~
KH

Playing Catch-Up, Picture wise

2009-07-01T14:27:00.005-05:00

I know that I am bad, I haven't added pictures on here for quite some time, so I am attempting to get some added today, let's see how it goes. I had a good one of Dad with the Grandkids on Father's Day. Saying I get them added, I am hoping that you see also, some pics from the first Cattle Show of Summer, and if I get REALLY lucky, you are also seeing pictures from our Family Reunion............. we'll see how it goes.

(okay so my life isn't allowing me to get more pix uploaded and they obviously didn't upload in the right order.............)

Anyway, so it goes,

From Tulip~

Lots of pictures........

2009-05-24T19:59:00.005-05:00

Cody with Bob and Gladys, notice how he's taller than everyone but David in all these pics?

My parents and Cody at the Pool Hall afterwards. (we had everyone come over there for a LATE light supper of sandwiches, chips, veggie tray, fruit salad, cookies and homemade icecream, all of Cody's choices.)

Us with Cody afterwards, still at school.

Here's Cody's humoring my mother, but I am not going to smile face before the dance. (Notice the red tie in ALL the pics, he found this StL Cardinals tie sometime when we were clothes shopping, and if he has to wear one, he seems a little less put out if he can wear that one.......so all dress shirts have to match that tie! :)

May has been a busy month around here. This first picture is of Cody before the 8th grade dance. I have some with friends, both boys and girls, but didn't want to get in trouble for posting the 'wrong' thing....... Other pics I am planning to upload, we will see how this goes are from 8th Grade Graduation, ones with David and I, ones with his grandparents, etc.......... Wish me luck, this works, SOMETIMES and others not so much....... anyone who reads this who doesn't do Facebook, you should, I try to put pics on there as well........ one time I figured out how to transfer pics from either there to here, or here to there........ and now can't seem to figure out how I did that, so in order to see the most pics you gotta go to both, I am sorry, I am technology poor......... maybe someday, the internet will be FAST in the country without having to pay an arm and a leg for it!!! (Okay so they finally uploaded, exactly backwards.........but they're on there) Maybe I will put some more pics on another day...... have some cool ones of my rose bush, and took some of the summer outfits I made Jenna this weekend.

Until then, from Tulip~

KH

A poem that popped into my brain today

2009-04-30T14:24:00.002-05:00

David, my husband, the farmer

First I hear the door,
Then, your steps across floor.
Our greeting—hugs and hellos,
Then the girl and the fellows.

I see it in your eyes,
The stresses of the day.
I want to celebrate the successes,
And wipe all the rest away.

Feed and Clothe us, keep us warm,
Protect and Love us, allow no harm.
Toil and Labor, day in, day out,
I’m so proud of you, without a doubt!

Dedication, Responsibility, and Devotion
Only your family evokes more emotion.
Pajamas and baths, hugs and kisses,
Kids finally asleep, time for Mister and Missus.

Asleep in a spoon,
By the light of the moon.
Night full of dreams,
Until the sun again beams.

As I laid in bed last night WIDE AWAKE (too much caffeine too late in the day) these phrases started popping into my brain and put themselves together. I am no poet, but I do love my husband and I thought it was pretty neat after I got it all down on paper. Thought that I would share.

From Tulip,

Easter Picture, a little late

2009-04-22T13:49:00.003-05:00

Been a busy place around here lately. Lots of little things, nothing real huge to report, thought I had already uploaded the Easter picture, but apprently hadn't, so here's the 2009 edition of the Hasekamp kiddos on Easter morning. You might note that the profile picture on my blog is of them LAST year......... yes Cody has grown SEVERAL inches, the rest have as well but his is the most noticable, Jenna's golden locks are longer I think and no Sam hasn't really gotten that dark of hair. We colored his hair for State wrestling and haven't cut it yet, so it is still black, thankfully no longer NEON black as it was the first day or two and actually I am getting used to it, so it will look weird to me when we cut it off I think. Seth is sporting his usual bold fashion choices with the boots on the outside of his slacks, but he's got clothes on, so I am not complaining. Jenna's dress was one that Aunt Lynn got her for Christmas. The week before Easter among other things was spent sewing a dress for the American girl doll to match and the little turkey didn't even have her doll in the picture! :) Oh well.
Have had a few catering jobs lately, it always amazes me how one little thing going wrong can totally throw everything into a pickle....... Had a job last week for desserts originally around a 100 that turned into almost 250....... Not that 250 cream puffs would have been a walk in the park, but when they wouldn't rise, etc and I had to regroup, 500 cookies in replacement was a fun challenge......... added to that the ordered Turtle pretzels and dipped strawberries, last week was a little busy! Some of our good friends are getting married in a few weeks and I will be cooking again, this time is supper for up to 200, she is working on a 'head count' for me right now. This one will be great, a good ol' meat and potatoes meal, looking forward to the cooking and to the day.
We are now within the last month of school, so there are many trips into school for misc assemblies, picnics, field trips, etc etc....... will make the last month go fast that's for sure.

Cody graduates from 8th grade, Monday evening, May 18th. We are planning a little get together at the Pool Hall I think for afterwards..... Then BRING ON SUMMER. As I sit here typing and I am being 'called' outside, it is a glorious spring day outside, there's surely something that I can find to do out there? Right??

Well I am headed out to see what I can find. From Tulip~

I almost hate to ask this question, but........could this week GET any busier??

2009-03-24T12:59:00.003-05:00

I took a quiz recently on Facebook that asked how many kids were you supposed to have? Not surprising to me, I scored in the '4-7 kids' bracket. Big shock. Before we had kids I used to say dumb stuff like 5 or 6 would be great.......... I know I must have been smokin' something. Anyway.....lots of morning sickness, heartburn, swollen ankles, sleepless nights, and diapers later, I have to say I have EXACTLY the family that I was supposed to have.
Take this week for example, it is the week leading up to the 'Grand Finale' of the Youth Wrestling Season, State Tournament is THIS weekend, I swear we just started practices last week, oh wait, yeah guess that was 5 months ago.......... hmmmm time flies I guess when you're having fun. We have practice EVERY night this week, yes by choice, no they aren't required, in fact our club doesn't have it every night, so we are actually 'crashing' another club's practice tonight. But you know Sam has worked very hard to get this far and I am not going to stand in his way. Wrestling keeps us busy throughout the winter that is for sure.
Then I start factoring in the guilt our busy life has on my heart. I feel guilty that we don't spend the 'quality time' together at home doing nothing that we probably should be spending, I feel guilty that there is way too many loads of laundry that I am behind on, a few too many dirty dishes and when have I dusted, I couldn't tell you. That's just the kids and home guilt. Now there's the friends and 'community' guilt as well. One of my dearest friends is running for local office, while yes I have made it to alot of the campaign meetings, but there's many things that I have not gotten done, several I volunteered to do, just haven't found the time. There are my classmates who are trying to plan a class reunion, not that it's hinging on me to get that done, but I haven't been consistent with the follow-up and I know that it's hanging in limbo right now, the final plans that is. I am a very devoted church member, our church added a wonderful twice monthly Bible study this year on Wednesday nights, haven't been able to attend one of them (it's a wrestling practice night)
I didn't start this blog to whine, and I am coming around to point, stay with me........
In our busy life, there are the brightest shining moments that are the things that get me through. Some recent ones have been, in no particular order:
Last Saturday, me, my brother, and four of my cousins all came together at my grandma's and had a 'Grandma Ruby' day. There were several others around, mom and her three brothers were in and out, my kids, some of our spouses, etc...... We didn't tell her that we were coming, until a call that I made on my way to her house. We helped her clean her house, reorganize, donate and pitch alot of things, did yardwork and just had a generally GREAT day!! She, who has done SO much for us, was paid back, no where near in full, because we could never pay her back for all that she does for us, all of us, but we made a small start. She seemed to be thrilled with the help and I for one, think that we could do this again as a group or each of us switch off taking a Saturday a month and just help her keep things going. I can't even start to list all the times that she has helped me out. I feel blessed, and hope that I returned that blessing at least in part on Saturday.
Last night, the three boys and I ate supper at McDonald's. How is that a shining moment, you ask. Well let me give you the scene. As we sat and ate a meal together, we talked about of course wrestling, we laughed and generally just relaxed together for a few moments, no it wasn't at home, no it wasn't in front of a home cooked meal, and no we weren't all 6 together; but is was full of sweet mommy moments for me, watching how my sons can be each others friend and love each other at least for a few minutes over a cheeseburger and fries.
Last night the two missing from McDonald's David and Jenna 'worked.' Jenna had a ball it seems, she chattered about all that they did the second I walked in the door last night. She was thrilled to report that she 'helped' Daddy in the grain bin, thus she was dusty and had just had a bath and Daddy always does a better job combing out her beautiful golden hair.
I always worry that the wrestling or whatever 'thing/season' is taking away from our family time, but I had to laugh this morning, all three of the 'school kids' had matching shirts on as they got on the bus, 'Follow us to State, black Panther Wrestling TShirts' covered my kids back today in support of Sam and his fellow 'state bound' buddies. The kids aren't whining or feeling guilty, so why am I? hmm....
So maybe all of this busy-ness is at least sort of okay, because it gives us all excuses to do things together, experience things we might not have, and support and love each other in many different ways....................at least that's what I am hoping, so my 'guilt' won't be in vain!!!
Looking out the office window and watching it rain.
From Tulip~
KH

Pictures from the Weekend

2009-03-16T23:50:00.003-05:00

Cody and Rachel Coen, the 8th Grade Candidates for Band Prince and Princess. They didn't win, but I thought that they both looked nice Saturday night. (thanks Becker's for letting Cody clean up at their house, we would have never gotten there on time without your help, thinking Rachel wouldn't have been smiling if he hadn't! HAHAHAHA!!!)

Sam winning one of his matches, the less than enthusiastic face I think has to do with the fact that the boy he beat is a good friend and he knocked him out of the tournament with that win. I think it's hard for the boys sometimes in wrestling as they get to be good friends with these kids. Good Season, Tanner Dowling of Moberly! See you next year!!

My boys

2009-03-14T22:50:00.002-05:00

Today was a great day. It started rather early, the alarm went off at 4AM! Cody, Sam and I were out the door by twenty till 5. We met Wayne in Columbia and the four of us drove to Wentzville, MO for the Regional Wrestling Finals. Centralia club sent 28 boys, which I thought was oustanding! We qualified 11 to go on to State Tournament, on the last weekend of this month. SAM INCLUDED!!!!
Sam's day started out like alot of them, he had a pretty easy first match in the second round, had a bye in the first round as he was seeded 1st in the bracket. The bye and two wins under his belt going into the semi final match, he had his first really well matched competition this year. This kid was about Sam's twin, physically and just as strong. But the advantage came in the fact that Sam's opponent has wrestled ALOT more than Sam has this year. I believe the Mom told me that they hadn't sat out a weekend all season. (either they are way more dedicated than us, or have alot more free time and disposable income......) Anyway, Sam lost in that round, he came off the mat, frustrated and I tended to agree, b/c we thought he had the kid pinned, and the ref didn't get down and see it fast enough.......oh well I guess. In Wrestle backs Sam picked up another win by pin (had three all together today!!) which set him up to wrestle for third place. Went into the third place match ready to go and did the job and we came away with third place, not a bad spot, considering the two above him, generally place high at National tournaments.
Cody didn't end up qualifying for State, but had a GREAT day as well. Lost in the second round, as his first round opponent was a scratch (not sure if he was sick or didn't make weight, we never heard) Then in Cody's first round of wrestle backs, to stay in it, he got in there and 'walked the dog' as our beloved Coach, Tim Gilbert would say! ;) Pinned that kid in the second period I think! Semi finals, he was just out muscled and then finished his day wrestling for 5th place. Came away with his last match of youth wrestling by winning, 13 to 9, in a great match. And he's already talking about weight lifting and next year.....
The second we got done wrestling, it was a flying trip back home as the Band Chili Supper and Pie Auction was going on tonight. They also crown the Band King and Queen, Prince and PRincess. This was part two, of our busy day. David, Jenna and Seth met us there. Cody played in the band performance. My pie was one of 40 some odd that were auctioned. My sweet husband was outbid at $70 by our friend, Gary Seider for my Triple Berry pie. AND.........Cody was the 8th Grade Band Prince Candidate. He didn't end up winning, but was very handsome escorting the his class Princess Candidate, Rachel Coen.
Long day, maybe when my camera revives from its dead battery coma and I revive from too many hours awake, I will get a few pics added. Until then,
From Tulip~
KH

March Madness has nothing to with Basketball at our house!

2009-03-05T10:28:00.002-06:00

Sitting here at the computer this morning, I am feeling guilty that there are so many other things that I really OUGHT to be doing. But I have really missed getting to regularly add blogs to this site, so crossing my fingers and hoping to make this a higher priority. As I mentioned in the last post, yes I am enjoying Facebook, but I have had a goal in my 'facebook time' It's been a great tool in finding classmates and our goal of 'finding everyone' is much closer. Just a few to go! Our Class Reunion plans seem to be hard to get 'in ink' as we keep running into to conflicts with location, etc..... we are determined to have the reunion and want to stick with our current date of July 25th as the date seemed to suit most people the best. (Crossing my fingers and hoping my back yard isn't the only location available, but will take on for the team if necessary!)
Wrestling is starting it's wind up towards the FINALE at the end of the month. Districts are this weekend in Jefferson City. Sam is seeded 1st in his bracket, there are 6 others in the bracket, he's beaten at least 4 others more than once this year and the other two are first year wrestlers, so he's feeling pretty good about his prospects. And for Sam it's all about the shirt and I promised a 'district champ' t-shirt if he wins it all, so he's got a goal! ;) Cody is seeded 3rd. The districts' top 6 qualifiers go on to Regionals next weekend and that is at Wentzville, MO. From there the top 4 go to State at Hearnes Center the last weekend of March!
4-h is seems to get busier all the time, there are several county activities going on right now, preparations are being made towards this summer's fair, this month is a fundraiser. At our household, calves are being lead pretty well everyday mostly still by David and Bob, but the boys are spending some time in the barn with curry combs and doing a little leading. That will change as soon as wrestling is over, the boys will start spending ALOT more time with them, plus helping the men with field work, which of course we are hoping starts promptly the first of April! (cross your fingers!)
There is one final hog on our farm.......... everything else has been sold, so with all of their 'free time' the men have been working on some new projects. Beth and Jason took over the 'ABS' dealership (which means they now sell cattle semen) We will also being offering the service of AI-ing cows for customers. David and Beth got certified last weekend and Jason already is. Projects around here to help out with this little venture have been the tearing down of our farrowing huts that were along the south side of the little barn behind our house. The guys are building a corral and pen system to make it easier to get our cows in for that pasture and whenever someone would bring in a group of cows to get bred, this system would help in moving the groups around. It looks very nice, David has spent alot of time on the welder. I think he looks forward to the project getting done.
As always there's much more I could share, but that list of what all else, I SHOULD be doing is looming, so I should probably start tackling some of the jobs.
From Tulip~
KH

Remember us?

2009-02-17T23:29:00.004-06:00

I have to admit that I have a new addiction, Facebook, which has seemed to 'eat up' alot of my internet time as of late. But besides being other places onthe web, we are just plain BUSY lately. The boys are in the middle of wrestling season and having great seasons!! I think Sam has only lost 2 or 3 times! Most of his wins are by pin! And Cody is winning some matches and accumulating some pins himself! Plus I have tried to take a more active role in the county 4H committees this year, so there have been several meetings to attend. Okay enough with the excuses.

What's all going on lately that good great and fun??? I have been sewing alot lately. Recently made the kids' Valentines' gifts. Jenna and Seth got coloring book totes with pockets for markers that you see in the picture. I also made the boys drawstring mesh bags for some of their wrestling stuff. (Wasn't as lucky to get them to pose for a picture)

Last week, David, Cody, Sam and Bob went with some friends to the National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville KY. They saw all sorts of stuff and enjoyed tractor pulls both nights that they were there. While they were gone as a last minute sort of thing, I ended up taking several orders for Valentines goodies (30 dozen dipped strawberries) That was a nice shot in the arm of the ol' checkbook! :)

Cody's gifted class at school, Nexus, is getting ready to compete in their favorite acadmeic competition, Destination Imagination. (google it if you are interested, I don't remember the website) So they are putting in lots of hours during and after school getting ready. The local competition is in Jefferson City, this Saturday. If they place high enough they go to a regional competition in Joplin, MO........if they place there they can go to Knoxville TN like they did two years ago.

The boys are likely to have a busy summer, there is a barn full of show calves. Which they are already working with, and that makes me happy, I am glad that they are learning that an extra effort will pay off in the long run. (also since there are so many, I may have to lead one, so I am liking that they are getting them tamed down! ;)

We are looking forward to more than cattle shows this summer. In June the boys will go to 4H camp and my Dad's side of the family are all gathering at my Aunt's home in Arkansas, some of them I haven't seen since we got together in Oklahoma four years ago!!! I absolutely can't wait!!!! In July is my 20th HS class reunion, we are making great progress in finding classmates, only a few are giving us a good hunt! Hopefully we will find them all!!! And they will ALL get to attend! (well looks like the picture uploaded and I really need to go to bed!)

From Tulip~

David's Birthday, catching up and misc.

2009-01-12T16:30:00.002-06:00

Hello there
Seems like forever since I have taken time to write! That was a very long Christmas break, and I for one am glad to be back into the routine of school! Today is David's birthday! He's....... older than me, and that's all I better say. He's taking getting older and having a birthday with alot better attitude than normal, so I won't push it! :) We had 20 people for lunch yesterday to celebrate. I served Pork loin, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, slaw and macaroni and cheese. My mom brought crock pot corn, Grandma brought jello, and Gladys made one of David's favorite's, German Chocolate Cake. So we ATE WELL.
So much has happened since my last entry. The boys have been to two wrestling tournaments. At Boonville the weekend after Christmas, they took second and third, which they were pleased with. Then on the 3rd we went to Blair Oaks, I say we as we ALL went. The little kids did better than I expected them to. And the boys had spectacular days. They both got second place in their respective divisions. Sam pinned two guys and Cody pinned one! GREAT DAY! We went with our good friends, Bob and Margo and their kids to a great pizza place afterwards, Arri's across from the capital in Jeff City. For us that is almost as much a tradition during wrestling season for tourney's in JC as a stop to Central Dairy for ice cream.
Jenna who has been 'blessed' with bad teeth has had an expensive Christmas break, going twice to the dentist and we have one more appointment scheduled and will be racking up a HUGE bill, of course farmers don't have dental coverage!! We thought that she was going to be even MORE expensive as she's been having some ear problems, another one of those 'blessings' of heredity and we had considered putting tubes in her ears. With the BIG dental bills, we are going to hold off at least for now. Not to say next week we will have changed our minds. :)
I am very excited and looking forward to some Quilting classes that I have registered to take at 'Material Girl Quilt Shop' in town. Meredith has a great assortment of classes that she's offering through winter and early spring. There are several good classes with an assortment of totes and purses that you can make. There's even a luggage class, too cool! These are being taught by Lori Van Maanen. Some are on Saturdays, some through the week. Meredith is teaching several different quilt in a day type of classes also! I have signed up for one called 'Honeyberries' this is quilt made with strips of fabric and looks really cool with black and white, which I believe is what I will be making mine out of. There's teddy bear class that looks neat, taught by Meredith's mother in law, Judy Stidham. Also Lori V. is teaching a class where you'll make a cute trendy belt. almost every class is under $30 which is very affordable when you consider the time spent by the teachers. Several of the all day classes, maybe even all include LUNCH! So that's really cool too. I think that these classes would be great for those who love to sew or would like to learn how to, Meredith offers a wide variety for all skill levels. Go in and check the schedule! Think if you start now, what great gifts you could give this year for Christmas!! :)
Well the kids are home and I am trying to manage supper, homework and chores, so I better close this. Hoping that everyone had a blessed holiday and is comfortable settling into 2009!
From Tulip~
KH

Homemade Christmas Gifts

2008-12-26T23:22:00.004-06:00

In an effort to save money this year and actually have something under the tree for the kids, I made them alot of things. One of those things was a 'closet' or 'wardrobe' for Jenna's doll clothes. I had looked at them all over and they ranged from $40 to $140 a piece. Now mine isn't made of wood, but with a box, some leftover fabric from Jenna's 'closet doors' (aka curtains) and some scraps of trim and a few (wo)man hours and a little help from Cody and David, Jenna has a really cute place to store her doll clothes. I used a box that I had. Cut my fabric to size and ironed on some 'wonder under' then literally ironed the fabric to the box, it worked just great. I covered the edges with some trim, used a little fabric glue/fray check along the edges. David cut a dowel rod (the only thing we had to buy for this project) to the right length and screwed it in place. The inside was lined with clip art and and things that Cody found and downloaded then printed off from the computer, they were lightly glued in place and then we covered the whole inside with clear contact paper that I had. (fyi-- we reinforced the interior of the box so it is all double layered cardboard, actaully VERY STURDY!) The knobs on the front and the handle on the top David found in the bottom of 'my' tool box, from some time when I had updated some cabinet doors, I think from back when we lived in the trailer.

The hangers were another invention, even the little doll clothes hangers were plenty high priced, I thought. So with a spool of floral wire that I had on hand I made several hangers. I was worried about the ends, so I covered the whole hanger in ribbon (that I also had on hand) They look very cute. Jenna just loves the closet, and we have her doll clothes hanging inside and she found a little 'mini' basket that fits in the bottom and its holding the doll shoes. I wonder where she gets her 'inventive-ness' hmmmm Anyway, wanted to share a picture, as I have told several about this project and I wanted to share a little about the finished project.

From Tulip~

Christmas Celebrations, half way through

2008-12-26T22:56:00.005-06:00

Although it's the day after Christmas, as far as the calendar is concerned it's still Christmas here. We have carolled with Church, we've went to Christmas Eve service, Santa's been here, and we've had Christmas with my parents. But we still have Christmas with David's family, the Barnes Christmas and lots of neighbor gifts to deliver, so Christmas is still in 'full swing' here. My kids have really surprised me this year. I worried that they might be disappointed with the gifts, as we made a point to stay within our budget this year and pretty well did it. The number of gifts was about he normal, but there were many more made gifts and smaller lesser expensive things. But you know the kids didn't seem to mind, there wasn't any 'hmm I didn't ask for this or where's the (fill in blank) that I asked for' They seemed to be truly grateful. For that I felt blessed.

Highlights of the days so far have been:

Cody is beside himself about the three sports history documentaries that he got: St Louis Cardinals, Kansas City Chiefs, and Indianapolis Colts, that surprised me, I had no idea he'd be so excited. Bought all three on an Amazon sale for $5.99 each!

Sam has enjoyed the 'build it yourself, design your own' lego set that he got, it was half the price of the 'branded' Lego series that are out there.

Jenna is enjoying the bead set and making necklaces, etc. (Dollar General find for $3)

Seth, well God love him has colored up a storm with his crayons and color books from probably Dollar General as well, can't remember bought them back in the summer thinking it would entertain him on a trip drivng, then didn't end up going and they were in the 'gift' stash, so they go wrapped.....

I sewed up a storm for the last month or more and so far those gifts have been loved so that's cool too. Teachers loved journal covers, Mom did too. Brittany loved her knitting needle holder, Riddick and Trinity's stocking were well received. All four kids are currently wearing the Pajama pants that I made them (they are all asleep) I am looking forward to Grandma and Gladys getting their quilts, DH's sisters getting their runners and journal covers, plus the kids getting their blankets.

I am proud to say that I have 'used up' a large portion of my fabric supply this year and created some great gifts, that cost me no 'extra' money in this time that we are going through with everyone having to tighten belts. I was thrilled to still be able to give 'great stuff'

David and I didn't exchange gifts this year. We put the $$ towards some updates for our bathroom, which is sorely needed. WE are getting a new medicine cabinet, light and exhaust fan. Then we will use the paint that I bought awhile back and finish it off. We feel truly blessed that we don't really 'need' anything and can focus our energy on doing things for our home instead of stressing out about buying gifts.

Since my Christmas cards are mostly still laying here on the desk, unmailed, Merry Christmas to everyone, and hopefully you'll get it soon and can call it a New Years card...........

The boys are wrestling in their first tournament tomorrow and the rest of the house is asleep and that's where I should be as well, so From Tulip~

PS--for anyone who doesn't know, those are the 'cousins' my kids and Wayne's two taken last night at Mom and Dad's (Trinity was very relaxed and spent most of her first Christmas as expected, ASLEEP! Although she and her Aunt K hung out for awhile, which was GREAT!)

Yes EVEN Cody sat on Santa's Lap

2008-12-19T23:24:00.002-06:00

I thought maybe Cody would have decided that he was TOO OLD for this great tradition, but as traditions go, he had to take part in a long standing Tulip tradition, where if you want the 'treat' bag, I gotta talk to Santa and Tulip Kids have been going up to talk to Santa way up into their teens, I can even think of few 20somethings who've been up there. Hard telling what they discussed, but Cody took his turn.

Sam and Santa

2008-12-19T23:13:00.002-06:00

I am sure, although I couldn't hear it, that most of Sam's gifts could be traced back to one or more of the following themes, Legos, Star Wars, or Playstation 2 games. And the ultimate, I have been informed SEVERAL times would be Lego Star Wars, The Video Game for Playstation 2. Do you think Santa could keep all of that straight? Time will tell, I suppose. ;)

Seth and Santa

2008-12-19T22:49:00.003-06:00

Seth was very brave and marched right up there and told Santa alot of stuff, of course the few things I could hear were definitely last minute additions, so I hope Santa was listening closely and taking good notes. Of course at this age, ALL presents are exciting, thank goodness!!

Jenna and Santa

2008-12-19T22:39:00.003-06:00

Last Sunday evening we had our church Christmas program and we were 'surprised' at the end of the program with a special guest. Santa popped in to say hello and visit with the kids to double check on any last minute requests. I think this might be the first year that Jenna would willingly go and sit on his lap since her first Christmas. She definitely had a long list for him.

Jason and Marshall Kable

2008-12-19T22:31:00.003-06:00

Jason and Marshall were in the parade tonight. That's one of our tractors, pulling a rake. I wish I had better pictures, it was hard to find a setting on my camera that was right for the lighting. It was dark, but there were street lights, and headlights and obviously ALOT of Christmas lights, but we managed to get a few decent pictures.

The Tractor Parade

2008-12-19T22:23:00.004-06:00

The Centralia Young Farmers have started a new tradition at Christmas time the night time lighted tractor parade. We didn't go last year, the inaugural year, but we went th is evening. I tried to take some pictures without much success, I am posting a few. The Sprayer is from MFA. The boys were fired up abou this and think that next year we need to enter a tractor, we'll see, not sure if we can come up with anything, stay tuned.

Pretzel Wreaths

2008-12-18T15:13:00.004-06:00

I have spent the day at school today. Seth and I took the supplies to make these wreaths in both Sam's 4th grade classroom and also Jenna's Kindergarten room. I didn't get the chance to take pictures while there, as I was too busy. I always hate that about those events where you are too busy to actually take pictures to remember it by. So my picture of the sample with have to do, I suppose. Anyone interested in making these, they are totally simple. 10 little 'knot' pretzels, your choice of white or milk chocolate or the Wilton's candy melts, (I found red and green at Michaels) Dipping the 'double' side of the pretzel into the melted chocolate, then arrange them on a paper plate or wax paper into a circle, using five pretzels on each layer. The top layer I offset to sort help 'glue' the whole thing together. They harden in about 10 minutes in the freezer or probably 45 minutes to an hour sitting out. I have made them before with the 'mini' M&M's as the 'ornaments' One year we tried shoestring licorice as the ribbon, I can't remember, but I don't think we had super great luck with that. Totally simple project even little kids can do, the Kindergarteners had no more problem creating these than the 4th graders, they were just short for reaching across the table at school, but it worked really well. (note for any beginners, melt the chocolate in a heavy stoneware bowl, in 1 minute increments in the microwave, stirring in between, shouldn't take more than about three times. ) Also another FYI, the one pound bag of Rold Gold pretzels, made 20 wreaths......

Now I should really get back to projects here at home, before the kids get here. (BTW, no freezing rain YET!!!)

From Tulip~

Journal Covers

2008-12-15T08:19:00.004-06:00

I went to a class at Material Girl Quilt Shop several weeks ago and learned how to make journal covers. It's a really cute fabric cover for the 'composition' sized note books. I am planning to try and cover different sizes, but for Christmas gifts, decided to stick with the original size. These are so fun and quick, it feeds my need/obsession to 'design' a 'quilt' I love the hunt, finding fabrics that go together and also love the piecing, but am not generally patient enough to actually quilt a a project and since you don't actually quilt in this project, ALL THE BETTER! Pictured are four different ones that I made. I made two others that I forgot to snap a pic of before they got wrapped, so maybe they will show up on here AFTER Christmas.

Locals, if you are looking for fun projects to entertain yourself with this winter, go to Meredith's Quilt Shop link from here on my blog, which is the Material Girl Quilt Shop, or just stop by. I know that she has several more classes scheduled starting in January through early Spring. Tell her I told you to come in!!

Well the kids are home today from school as the roads are slick and its bitterly cold, so I think we are going to play catch up on housework and laundry and I just know that they can't wait to get started, so I better close!!! ;)

From Tulip~

Gingerbread House

2008-12-10T16:03:00.004-06:00

Send my Mom of the week star! I let Sam talk me into buying a Gingerbread house kit. And as you see we decorated it. I let the kids do this by themselves, so it's their creation, at least Sam, Jenna and Seth. Cody wasn't interested, I am thinking there was probably a football game on TV competing for his attention! Anyway we are 'merrily' (sarcasm intented!) working our way throught the holiday season. With one fun activity after another. (refer to the above note) I know that we are making great memories and I try to remind myself of that as I was 'chipping' dried icing off the table that had almost cemented the gingerbread house in place that night! My kids were really fired up about the gingerbread being edible until they tried it....... Maybe next year we will bake our own. Maybe not........time will tell.

I have to take this moment to BRAG, I think I am done shopping or if not done VERY CLOSE!! WOO HOO!!!

That's not to say I am just sitting back and waiting around for Christmas, I don't have cards done or baking or sewing, but I have 'part' of the work done, so for that I am THRILLED! I would love to add some pictures of some of my creations, but I am not really sure who all is following this, so not ruin any surprises, I guess I will wait to post those pictures till after Christmas. But know that my sewing machine, has ran EVERYDAY for the last month and I still h ave alot more to go!!

Well I see as I type, that picture finally uploaded, gotta love that slow dial up, going to close for now, tonight is practice for the Church Christmas Program and about a million other things, you know same old, same old around here.

From Tulip~

The Tree

2008-12-06T19:55:00.003-06:00

We decorated our Christmas Tree last night. Does everyone else go down memory lane every year withyour ornaments? I do. Guess it's made me feel 'nostalgic' this evening. I have been very blessed with family and friends who have over the years given us beautiful ornaments that have helped us relive and remember good times or times in our lives. I blog about things that I feel strongly about and what a great thing to share some of our favorite ornaments an the story behind them.

I have a set of 20 ornaments, dated from 1980 to 2000. They came from, in the first year or two, my Aunts Olivia and Ethel. They signify life changes that happened throughout those years. Starting in 1989, David has ornaments, in 1990 Aunt Ethel made us a 'Our first Christmas', with our wedding date on a wedding bell ornament. Cody has ornaments from 1994 on, and Sam from 1998 on. There was the year that Aunt Ethel moved to Texas and the ornament is a cowboy hat. After that year the ornaments changed from ceramic ones to wooden to better withstand being mailed to us. Most of them were little mice in winter wear, there was one that was ice skating, one that is leaning over a chalkboard. Several years they were mice or teddy bears. The very first one was a Snowman. This year that snowman is on a little bitty tree on top of my refrigerator, as he kind fits the theme of my kitchen, which is Coca Cola so the snowmen and Santas are here and there among the Coke things.

We have many ornaments that were given to our children over the years. The boys have enough ornaments among them that they have their own tree. From Batman to the 101 Dalmations, to Scooby doo and the St Louis Cardinals their tree is their own creation, filled with their memories. Jenna, who also has her own tree, opted to 'borrow' several of my 'old' ornaments.

Our tree (s) certainly are a reflections of our life and our passions. There's one from my favorite Christmas movie, 'It's a Wonderful Life' There are several farm themed or tractor ornaments. There's Americana ornaments, stars and flags. There's ornaments to remind of us of places we have been, things that we love and so many stories that I am not even sure I could tell them all. It's is one of my goals to 'write all the stories' of our ornaments for my children. With my passion for scrapbooking, I even bought a really cool Christmas Album one year with ornaments on the front of it. Hopefully one day, I will get it done. But days like today, just getting the tree decorated seems like such a big challenge, that one might have to wait till our tree is sized back to 'just' mine and David's ornaments......... but I think that will be shame as there such good stories in all those ornaments that will leave with my kids, hopefully I will get it done and SOON. As Sam and I drove to do some errands today, we were talking about things (I love taking him with me alone, as then HE really talks ALOT and I love that!) We figured out in talking about currents events and mention of the new President, that Cody will be able to vote for the NEXT President. That was one of THOSE moments for me, that wow, OMG my kids are growing up. Made me really relish decorating our home today for the coming holiday with them as there won't be many more of those years where we are all here to decorate the tree, where I tell them the stories that I have told them every year of the ornaments on our tree. Maybe my New Years Resolution will be to make that album, maybe I can have them help me, while they still are around to.

Told ya I was feeling nostalgic today.

From Tulip~

Little 'Angle' Girls

2008-12-01T07:52:00.003-06:00

Don't have time this morning to write a long blog, but wanted to share a picture of a couple of little angels........... Jenna Claire whose last name might be Hasekamp, but anyone who knew me about 30 yrs ago would swear her name should be Angle! And the absolute thrill of Thanksgiving Day for her, holding her new little cousin, Trinity. I had to wait a long time for a 'girl' cousin, 11 yrs! Jenna was very lucky not have to wait that long. She picked out the outfit that Trinity has on, right up Jenna's alley, pink and brown and cowgirl themed, Trinity I hope you realize that as long as your cousin is picking it out, you have no choice, you're gonna be a cowgirl! I would love to write all about our thankful Thanksgiving, and we had a great one, hopefully I will get the opportunity soon!

So, from Tulip~

Counting my Blessings

2008-11-25T20:54:00.003-06:00

With Thanksgiving looming on us quickly, I thought this was the perfect opportunity list my blessings, and there are alot so bare with me!
I am thankful for four beautiful children who entertain me, frustrate me, laugh with me, make me cry (mostly in the good way) have wonderful and different personalities. I couldn't be any luckier unless there was more (which is pretty unlikely, BTW)
I am thankful for my husband, who's my best friend, my lover, the guy who makes me maddest and gladdest (is gladdest a word?) all in one.
I am thankful for my parents. They are my number one biggest fans, they totally support anything I do, no matter how crazy they have thought some of the things were. They always encourage me and remind me often that even on those days I wonder if anyone does, SOMEONE loves me!
My baby brother, I can remember wondering what mom and dad were thinking, they had a perfect kid and then went and had another, ugh!!! But now you're my best bud, we can talk or not talk and we totally know what the other one needs and we try to be each other's solution, not their problem.
I am thankful to be 37 years old and have a grandmother who is my best friend, who I talk to 3 or 4 times a day, everyday. We talk about cooking, sewing, parenting, and just stuff. My grandma is the coolest lady I know!
I am thankful for my aunts, they are my 'second' moms and I love them for all that they do for me, whether its a shoulder to cry on or just someone to gossip with, I am very blessed as I have FIVE of them!! O,E,K,L, and P~hugs to you!!
My uncles, OMG, where do I start, from the one who was my big brother growing up, to the one who delights in scares my kids with his false teeth (just like he did us as kids!), to my Anchor Fest co-worker, to 'Ugly' (yes you're hair is on straight) and my almost birthday buddy and my actual birthday buddy, man have I got some cool ones. Of course I was thankful to have a really super cool one, who's watching my boys play sports from a play way up high and I know he'd just love to see them.
I can't go through and name everything about all of my cousins, 'cause I'd never get through it. 15 first cousins, plus steps, plus more....... but you all have such a special place in my life. From fishing with the Angle cousins and always having those great times at Wilson park, to cruising with E.D. being thrilled when that girl (then that second one) cousin arrived, I love you all very much, and I am glad that you are part of my life.
Friends, how do you start counting friends, you'd never catch them all, but here's a few, you know who you are, the ones I scrapbook with, the ones I grew up with, the ones that I email, the ones that I talk to on the phone ten times a day, the ones that I sit with at school/sports functions, the ones I go to church with and so many more.
I know that so far I have only mentioned people, well there are alot of things that I am thankful for as well, some of them being,
health
a home
security
to live in a free country where even if we don't like how things go, we have the right to choose
I can attend the church of my choice, worship how I choose whenever I wish to
I can feed my family healthy nutricious food, or junk, again my choice!
And there are so many more things, but I just don't think that I can list them all.
I am glad that I have this forun to share these thoughts, and I am very thankfully counting my blessing here tonight,
From Tulip~
KH

Misc Ramblings

2008-11-21T19:48:00.003-06:00

I feel like I always have all these little tidbits to add to this and then never get it done, because it doesn't seem like a developed enough idea to add it to the blog, so this blog will just alot of updates and odds and ends......
Our magazine is out at least to subscribers. I got my subscriber copy yesterday. I love it, maybe it's because I love the subjects. But I was really thrilled with the finished product, I was a little involved with the editting, sometimes it's just interesting to see someone else's take on what we do. Locals, the Centralia grocery stores are both going to try and get extra copies. I have discovered that HyVee and Gerbes in Columbia both usually carry it as well as Barnes and Noble. I would venture the guess that any store that carries a large variety of magazines will have it. I believe eventually it will be for sale on the website, as there is a link to order the current issue, but right now it's still offering Oct/Nov.
Okay for anyone not local who might not know I don't think I ever mentioned the end of the football season for Centralia. The 8th grade boys ended out 4-2, which I thought was a very successful year, they lost to Troy, who had about 100 boys and I am guessing is a much larger school and I don't have any opinion on the Macon game as I didn't go, but Cody says that have a running back (I think remember my football knowledge) that was a super star and was unstoppable..........
The High School team ended up the District Champions and the Conference Champions. Their season ended at Regionals with a loss to Blair Oaks. They had another phenomenial (sp?) year, we are all proud of them.
Now wrestling has begun, High School and the club have started practices. The Open house is Monday night and we are looking forward to a new sport getting started. As I know of them I will post the boys' tournaments on the side bar. There are only 4 8th graders this year, so Cody and compnay will have a big responsibility of leading the rest of the club, I feel confident that they will rise to the occasion. Seems like the club is smaller this year, but I have been in there when the younger boys practice, I may be very surprised when I see the whole group together. The boys weighed the other night and if they were in the same age group (and THANK GOD they aren't) they could probalby wrestle each other, Cody is 116 and Sam is 111 (and YES four years apart in age, but built so differently) Not sure when to say the first tournament will be that they will participate in, because there are ALOT of Sunday ones, which we aren't thrilled about, ours is now on Feb 8th, which is also a Sunday. Getting an available date that wasn't another teams tournament, not a High School tournament, not a Freshman basketball game, you get the picture........
I am getting alot of Christmas shopping and sewing done. I am looking forward to my annual shopping trip with my college friend Toma, we are trying to work out the details. We giggle and go out to eat and sometimes actually shop, but we do this every year and sometimes thats the only time we get together. I am glad that we do get together. I don't know if I am feeling nostalgic or what, but I have been craving time spent with friends and family who seem to far flung from us. Was telling Kimberly how much I missed Kenneth Earl today, you know its bad when I am whining about not seeing his ornery @$$ :)
Okay so since I have mentioned it in this blog, Trinity is cute little sweet pea. I have spent some time with her and her brother and her momma this week. We had Riddick stay the night here one night, to help his momma get a little more sleep and rest up some. Seth and I went down one day and helped her do some things around the house and we've regularly checked in on them this week. Seems like everyone is doing really good. We are celebrating Riddicks third birthday tomorrow night at the pool hall for which I am baking a 'Lightning McQueen' birthday cake.
We've had 4+ deer shot off of our land during fire arms deer season, Jason shot one of them and right now David is cutting up the meat, which we will enjoy this winter. David and the boys have went a few times, but not with much luck.
This coming Sunday David, Cody, Sam and my Dad will go and watch the KC Chiefs football game, I guess they are looking forward to it, mostly they are trying to figure what they will wear to stay warm. It's 4H Day at the Chiefs and the tickets were available at a very discounted rate, so they are going to go.
Well since I have sat down to type, everyone has suddenly gotten 'needy' so I must close this entry. I am looking forward to the holdiay season, actually looking forward to getting out the boxes and boxes of decorations and starting to do some baking and all of that.
From Tulip~
KH
PS~Happy 6th Birthday, Brennan and Brayden Swann in Houston, TX!

We are on the Web!

2008-11-18T20:59:00.003-06:00

Hey there,
Well Farm and Ranch Living has updated their website to feature the Dec 08 / Jan 09 edition of their magazine, which is the one that we are diarists in. The following link will take you to a slide of pictures from our story. The magazines should available very soon. I believe I have read the stories online before as although ours isn't on there yet, it may be after the next magazine is out, not sure, anyway, I was just very excited to share!
Here's the link:
http://farmandranchliving.com/2009/DJ09/slideshow2.asp

Go and check us out!
From Tulip~
KH

Trinity Leigh Angle

2008-11-12T21:41:00.004-06:00

Riddick is a big brother! At 10:48 am this morning, Trinity Leigh Angle arrived. She weighed in at 7 lbs. 12 oz. She's got some blondish brown hair. She has already proved that she's related to her father and is hard headed. She apparently didn't care for that whole upside down thing that babies are supposed to do and instead was sitting on her bottom in there, so the doctors tried to turn her this morning and she didn't like that either, so she arrived via C-section. I think that she had her Daddy more than a little nervous, but everyone is fine and dandy now. I am going to say that she must favor her momma, I compared her pictures with Riddicks newborn ones and she looks a little like him, but I thought that he looked 'just like my babies' which Marshall (nephew on David's side!) disproved that theory this spring, because he REALLY looks like my kids............ so the jury is still out on who she looks like, so stay tuned I guess!

Jenna is very anxious to see her, the boys yeah maybe, they are boys. Seth and Riddick are staying all night together at my parents tonight, we'll see if Grandma Linda survives. wish her luck! I guess afterschool tomorrow we will go and check her out, so watch for further reports.

BTW, they are Regional Hosp in Columbia and will be till probably Saturday. If Wayne and Brittany put her picture on WebNursery thing, I will post the link on here!

Okay so its been a long day, maybe I will get a chance to sit here again very soon and update this blog, I know it's sorely needed it, lots of stories to tell, coming soon I promise.

From Tulip~

KH (Trinity's Aunt!!)

PS--don't you love the 'half blink' thing that my brother is doing in that picture!?!? He'll be THRILLED that I choose t hat one to post on here!

Cinderelly

2008-11-03T14:14:00.002-06:00

Jenna our resident princess decided to be Cinderella this year for Halloween. So I got to further my skills at dress making. I actually can proudly say that this costume actually has a zipper in it, something I haven't done since I had to in Home Ec class over 20 years ago. I wouldn't have gotten an A on this project or a blue ribbon at the fair, but it's done, in fact already been wore and laundered and in the dress up box now. You'll notice (or maybe you can't see them, the picture is uploading while I am typing) she's sorting 'glass slippers' (jelly shoes, with glitter!) and of course she topped it off with a crown, since she's only got about 8! we of course needed a NEW Cinderella crown.

From Tulip~

PS-hoping my luck holds, have been having trouble getting pictures on here lately!

There's a New Sheriff in Town

2008-11-03T13:56:00.001-06:00

Here's Marshall in his first Halloween costume. He was a Marshal, how appropriate. Also here's another brand new update, he's no longer the baby on the Kable side, Jason's sister Amy (Shelton) had a baby this morning, Jaycie Faith weighed in at 10 pounds! 2 oz.

Cody Garrett, 14 yr old picture

2008-10-22T18:48:00.002-05:00

You know when you're cool and your mother can't tell you what to wear, etc etc etc, these are the kind of pictures you get taken. But I decided that it would okay, since this truly depicts what Cody is about at this age. So thought that I would share his 14 yr old portrait. More to come, hopefully I will get the other three taken over the next few days.
From Tulip~
KH

I remember...

2008-10-12T16:45:00.003-05:00

I decided that this blog was better suited to my Hasekamps of Tulip blog than rambling on for several minutes at church this morning, so here's the background. Today was the 150th Anniversary celebration of Sturgeon Christian Church. This is the church that I grew up in. One of the most interesting parts of the celebration was when Kenny (Hubble, my childhood friend, now the Chairman of the Board there) passed the microphone around the congregation. Everyone told a story of their memories of the church. I knew he was planning this so I sat down and really thought about alot of things that I remember. Since I didn't want to ramble on and on there, I will share them here.

Some of my earliest memories are of Sunday School and Vacation Bible School. The first SS teacher I remember specifically was Louise Jones, followed by Carol Bowne, then Vickie Smith and Bonnie Chase. I remember the church nursery room had what I thought as a child was the biggest drawer of toys that I had ever seen. Perspective changes as you get older, it fit under a baby crib, so maybe it wasn't so big. I remember Margaret Ritchie leading the childrens Sunday School singing and worship time. Her daughter, Louise Barrett played the piano. I learned this morning that she was very well trained by the time she got to my age group as several members older than I mentioned having the same memory. I remember during that time a little 'fake' birthday cake that held candles and when it was your birthday everyone sang for you and you got to blow out the candles. I remember VBS, that was the summer highlight of fun as a kid. The kids from our church and several other town kids attended, in fact I remember attending some other churchs VBS weeks as well, I think Mom still has the cutting board I made at the Baptist church VBS several years ago. At our church there was a certain order to things. The oldest kids who had graduated beyond VBS, probably 7th or 8th graders, were the recreation leaders. Recreation was generally a quick walk over to the school yard for games of kick ball or dodge ball. Refreshments were lovingly prepared by Mrs Creola Mason and Mrs Eva Kelly. I am sure there were others but those are two who stick out in my mind. They prepared individual snacks for each kid, which consisted of two or three cookies wrapped in a paper napkin. What a great surprise everyday to open it up and check out its treasures. As we got older, and a bit more observant, we figured out to check out the contents of the napkins and make sure we got the best ones. Kool Aid was the drink of the day. I can remember many a time sitting on the front steps of the church the snack tray sitting at the table that normally houses the guest book and picking up your cookies and drink, everyone sat on the steps and ate. I remember my Grandmother Ruby Barnes and her best friend Mary Woodruff were craft leaders several years. I can remember several interesting and intricate crafts that we made.

I remember a revival that we had when Tony Conley was the interim minister. I joined the church then, November of 1980. During the revival, his wife would sing a special and while she sang he drew a picture that I can't remember but can guess it possibly tied into the song. The person who had brought the most guests, received the picture. I joined the church the same time as my best friend from childhood, Michelle (Chase) Sandker, others I remember being baptised at the time were Bruce Pollard and my cousin Buford Bowne. I remember to this day the COLD water.

As I got older, I began to attend Youth Group. Hadley Haux, one of the older kids was our 'fearless' leader. I think he sort of got railroaded in, as he was the oldest. We must have trained him well as he has now spent the rest of his life working with kids as a band director in a school in the St Louis area. We did lots of great things in our youth group. I remember bowling, skating and swimming parties. I remember a few of these trips a little more vividly than others. One in particular was a trip to Rock Bridge State Park south of Columbia. It has an attraction called Devils Ice Box. Now I can't tell you if we even went down there or not. But know that we ran up and down the trails all over that park. I can tell you that there was poison ivy somewhere along the way. That particular summer, Michelle, Kim Barnes and I did EVERYTHING together. And chances are after that trip we all stayed all night at someones house together. Well by the next day, Kim and I both were covered head to toe with poison ivy and Michelle who ran with us every step and slept in the same bed didn't have it all. Kim and I both ended up going to the doctor it was so bad.

I remember church camp very fondly. The kids from SCC went to Rickman Conference Center Camp south of Jefferson City, MO. The first I knew of church camp was from the stories that Brad Blakemore and Kenney Hubble shared after their experience. The second year, Michelle and I got brave enough to go. I remember when it was time to go, I was less than enthusiastic, but by the end of the week, I didn't want it to be over. We must have been some great salesmen, as the third year, Sturgeon sent 14 kids to camp! We met kids from all over Mid Missouri. Some I remember particularly were from HArrisburg, Centralia, Troy, and Eldon, MO. Some of the kids we played sports against as we got older, some I still know today.

I remember church league. This was a slow pitch co-ed softball leugue that played games one night a week. I remembered 3 teams, but it was mentioned at church that our church had 4 teams. I know that my cousin Buford and I were captains of a team one year. What a statement that makes to not only have one team to represent your membership, but four! WOW!

I remember during the time we were led by Eldon Drennan, who made such an impact on my preteen and early teen years. The church started a newsletter, The Christian Outlook. Eldon wanted the kids to put together an edition of it at one point. I don't remember if it actually came to being as I remember one of our initial conversations was wanting to change the name for that edition to the Christian 'Look Out' I know that for someone who grew up and moved away, I have my day made once a month when the Christian Outlook arrives in my mailbox. I read it cover to cover ALWAYS. Virginia Haux adds just the right combination of announcements, and news bits for me to consider it a must read.

There are so many more memories. I was 'showered' twice there, once for my wedding and second when I was pregnant with my first baby, the one that today I have to look up at! I remember my wedding, complete with the fainting groomsman. I was married by Jimmy Jones, the same minister who married my parents, 23 years before. I was lucky enough to experience being led in my faith by Jimmy twice in my life, first as a child at Sturgeon, then as a young woman at Tulip.

I grew up in the Sturgeon Christian church as a person and as a Christian. I grew up and I left, like alot of kids do. But I have been blessed in my life to join another church just as loving, the Tulip Christian Church, where now my kids are stockpiling similiar memories of growing up in church. As I looked around that room today, so much of who I have become can be tied to the people and memories of growing up in that church, for that I feel fortunate and blessed. God Bless Sturgeon Christian Church, may you continue to serve the congregation and community for another 150 years and beyond.

Back at Tulip this evening~

KH

Why there's never as many pictures of Cody

2008-10-03T17:02:00.003-05:00

I think I have figured out why I never seem to have pictures of Cody. First off it's fate letting the rest of the kids catch up. Being the first kid, Cody has a GAZILLION pictures taken of him, of course most are in the first three months of his life! :) But keeping up with Cody is a challenge which I don't accomplish most days. He's busy with football, both his and HS. Every Friday he is working with the Radio Guys, Dave Holsinger and Bobby Fisher, and his friend,Brady Dopler, announcing the HS football games. His team plays once a week and of course practices everyday that there isn't a game. And by the way, this week during their game (and WIN!) with Hallsville, Cody scored a touchdown!!! We were all very excited about that! He carried the ball for around 70 yards that night. He's playing in the band, if I am keeping up, he's playing the fugel horn right now, he started out on Cornet/Trumpet and has also played French Horn. I won't even start listing the 4H, and other School activities. He's my busy boy who when we got him a cell phone, we figured he'd probably rarely use it, well a year and half later, he never leaves home without it.
Also we measured everyone the other night, he's three inches taller than me and about 3 or 4 inches short of catching David. 5'10"-ish. The others had grown alot too, of course, I think that the average growth was probably 3 inches in the last year for everyone. I know keeping them in long enough jeans, etc is a challenge that I face daily (don't always accomplish that one either!)
From Tulip~
KH

Jenna's Field Trip

2008-10-03T16:55:00.000-05:00

On Wednesday October 1st, Jenna's class, the Kindergarten of Chance Elementary, went on a Field Trip to Boonville MO to Arnett's Peach Tree Farm. Their website is www.thepeachfarm.com Besides the obvious Peaches that must happen during the summer, as the farm is scattered with dozens of trees. There are also several Pumpkin Patches, where you may pick your own Pumpkin to purchase. (the kids received theirs as part of the their entry fee) There are several farm animals to feed in assorted pens scattered all over the property. Other 'attractions' include a Straw Maze, which was a big hit. There was a hay ride and lots of area for the 100 kids to just run and have a great time. They are located off of I-70, just west of the Missouri River Bridge near Boonville, exit 111. This is a reasonably priced family fun place. Our family has enjoyed travelling south of Centralia to the farm of our friends Roger and Jill McCoy who also sell pumpkins in the fall. They are located on Route Z, south of Centralia. But it was certainly nice to discover another place to take the family on a drive in the fall.
Jenna is pictured with her friend Christina after they found their pumpkins. The group tried out all of the activities and then we had a picnic lunch before returning to school.
From Tulip~
KH

Where's Cody?

2008-10-03T16:39:00.001-05:00

Outside of posed pictures, do you know how hard it is to get all four kids in one frame of the camera? Next to impossible would be the answer to that! After the 'friends' birthday party and weiner roast we had the 'family' party with grandparents and aunts and uncles. All four kiddos did pretty well! Lots of new clothes, some toys, $$$ They were very blessed with lots of great gifts.

3 Muskateers

2008-10-03T16:30:00.000-05:00

This is Jenna with her two best buddies. Christina Gronefeldt on her right and Megan Marcum on her left. These three are in Kindergarten together, Jenna and Christina are even in the same classroom. They all three ride the same bus. Also they are all three fall birthdays, with Christina in September, Megan in October and Jenna in November. I predict other shared birthday parties in the future. The girls enjoyed painting pumpkins and decorating 'crowns' while the boys played football and rode the 4-wheeler.

Hasekamp Kids' Birthday Party Pics

2008-09-30T22:50:00.001-05:00

Each of the kids invited some friends over for their birthday. We held this party in conjunction with the 'family' birthday party. Above Jenna, along with Brayden Shelton 'help' Seth open his present. This was a set of Incredible Hulk Fists aka boxing gloves, they were a big hit!

Happy 60th Birthday, Dad!

2008-09-20T22:35:00.000-05:00

Tonight has been a busy one. We hosted a birthday party for my Dad, Charlie Angle at his pool hall, IC Billiards. We fried around 60# of catfish, also served baked beans, slaw, potato salad and brownies and peanut butter cookies. The place was pretty well packed. Alot of the regulars were there, plus alot of out family. My Mom's three brothers and their families came, plus my Aunt Karen from IL (grandma to the triplets!) brought her family, including the triplets. Wayne fried the fish, I served and helped him some behind the bar. The kids played and the big guys watched football. The picture is Dad sitting down looking at his cards, there was of course several funny ones. The crowd all told him he could do it again next year, we'll see!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!!!!
From Tulip~
KH

My friend Judy

2008-09-18T22:53:00.003-05:00

Found another interesting thing to read on the internet this evening. Fairly regularly I go to the Columbia Daily Tribune website and catch up on local stuff. Well while I was there, I remembered that my friend Judy Knudsen was supposed to have a new travel blog on there and she does. When you go to the Tribune website, btw I use www.showmenews.com find the 'Where's Judy?' Link. I found it on the left side bar, fairly close to the top. If you have a few minutes, go there and check it out.
I met Judy while I was selling Creative Memories. We were both recruited by our good friend, Noelle Brooks. Judy lives in Columbia, at least most of the time. :) She is a piano teacher. She rides bikes EVERYWHERE. And as long as I have known her, she's a world traveller. I know of her travelling to New Zealand, France and now Singapore. She's just a really interesting person and great lady. Several of my friends that I scrapbook with probably remember Judy, she's great fun that's for sure. And it looks as if she compiling another long list of great new stories, which I can't wait to hear them all.
Well the weekend is almost upon us, Cody goes with the radio guys to Highland tomorrow night for another HS football game. Sam and Jenna have picture day tomorrow. I am scrapbooking tomorrow night. Sometime I am baking brownies and peanut butter cookies for the celebration of my Dad's 60th birthday Saturday night at the pool hall. Locals, come by and see him, wish another 60, YIKES! and eat some fish, I think we start serving about 7.
Hope everyone is enjoying fall, I know I am.
From Tulip~
KH

Football!!!

2008-09-16T22:26:00.002-05:00

Cody's first football game was tonight and they won! 24 to 0. (btw, the 7th grade also won, 16 to 0) They played South Shelby, which is the home of the only HS team to even score on our HS team this year so far. I believe all the teams, Varsity, JV, Freshman, and middle school are all undefeated!! Great time to be in Centralia if you love football!
I have to admit, I only just like it, it's growing on me. Without having it as a school sport growing up, I just don't really 'get it' but I am learning. Here's Cody's stats, carried the ball 4 times, for a total of 13 yards, and considering he's not the 'star' (receiver?) I didn't think that was too bad. He plays on the special team that 'receives' when the other team kicks (see how much I DON'T KNOW!) plus tonight he played both offense and defense. We kind of got on him, at the end of the game, the kid he was guarding got the football thrown towards him, kind of a last second 'hail Mary' shot at the end of the game, Cody was right there and the receiver wasn't, but he just knocked it down. He said he could have caught it, he was in position and ready, but he said the coach just told him to knock it down. And we all know, your best bet is 'following orders' They have some stuff to work on, but it was a good game. I took the other three and fed them while the 7th grade was playing, the 8th graders have to stay and David along with a couple of his friends were the 'chain gang' (7th grade dads do the 8th grade games, so it was their turn) I think he enjoyed that as much as watching Cody's game.
Anyway, I have a muddy uniform to wash,
From Tulip~
KH

Here's another blog that I loved today

2008-09-09T19:10:00.003-05:00

As a blogger, I love reading other blogs. This was a good one, I thought. I know where I was ten years ago YESTERDAY. Do you know where you were? Cody and I were watching the Cardinals play the Cubs and its was the big one, Mark McQwire hit the 62nd HR (giving me goosebumps right now) I saw this blog that a sports writer did that said basically how I feel also, who cares what we've learned since, etc etc.......Wasn't the summer of '98 a great one? And he's right!
Here's the web address:

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/Why-we-should-remember-the-Summer-of-98-fondly?urn=mlb,106278&cp=8#comments

His blog has had about 200 comments and unfortunately about half were negative, I posted a positive one. I think I was #180 'love the boys of summer'

Anyway, I know I said earlier I wasn't going to have to blog much, and here I am three blogs TODAY. Guess I should say all the time, I don't have time to blog, because invariably as soon as I say that, I think of all the other things that I 'have' to say.
Okay kids are starving, gotta run.
From Tulip~
KH

One more Quick Blog!

2008-09-09T13:54:00.002-05:00

My good friend Meredith (Romine, Mrs. Chad)Stidham, who I have mentioned on my blog several times before has gotten her website going. Go check her out at
www.materialgirlquiltshopllc.com
She has got a really cute shop and her website is looking great as well. When you're in Centralia pop in and say Hi! She has reinspried my sewing passion as of late. I have two different Christmas gifts in process, which you will be seeing pictures of soon, as the recepients aren't 'online' but don't tell them you saw it here first. I have a cute 'cowboy quilt' started for Gladys and a 'princess quilt' (Jenna named it!) started for my grandmother. No those aren't the names, when I a 'officially' post the pictures, etc. I will try to come up with the right names. They both incorporate a 'None Patch' Quilt Square, Gladys' is set on point and my grandma's has several different sizes of them. More to come!
From Tulip (again)~
KH

I LOVE FALL!

2008-09-09T13:19:00.003-05:00

Well my favorite time of the year is here. The cooler weather certainly helps us remember the season that I guess doesn't officially start for a couple of more weeks. I have declared it fall at Tulip. We have officially tied up the loose ends from summer, I think we've froze or canned the last items from the garden.
Grand Totals:
138 Quarts of corn Frozen
54 Quarts of Grape Juice Concentrate Canned
Too many strawberries, peaches and apples to count.
My freezers are all full to the brims and I think the two at Beth and Jason's are the same way! Of course alot of these items have happened in the last month, everything was so late! But we were thankful to have it that is for sure!
The last straggling items from our State Fair trek migrated to the attic this morning as my boxes of fall decorations came down, (multitasking!)
Cody's first football game is next week. (Kind of a new fall indicator for me)
We started a new 4H year last week. Our club is significantly smaller this year, we just have to focus on QUALITY, since we don't have QUANTITY!
I am in the planning stages of the kids' birthday party. We are trying something different this year to see how we like it. Since from Cody to Seth their birthdays span less than two months apart total, we are having one big birthday party for all four. We are planning to invite some friends (with their families) over in the afternoon for some games. Then the meal will be a weiner roast which our family is invited to as well, then after the friends leave we will do presents, etc...... One big blast, instead of several small ones.
Lots of big events before and after that party. This weekend is our new pastor's installation, which we are having lunch after that I am catering. Next weekend is my Dad's 60th birthday party. (lots of peanut butter cookies and brownies were the request for my share of the work)
My intention is over the next few weeks to really focus on my Catering Blog and add some pictures of Fall and Halloween treats that can be ordered, so check it out when you get time, the link is on this website along the right hand side bar. Oh there will still be football pictures, birthday pictures, etc. But I would really like that be a helpful tool for my business and it needs work.
Also update for those who might be wondering, Gladys sailed right through her 'partial knee replacement' surgery with flying colors. She is feeling much better but is housebound for a few weeks yet.
Anyway, that's what I know today.
From Tulip~
KH

Cody Garrett Hasekamp

2008-09-05T12:20:00.003-05:00

Today is Cody's 14th birthday. I searched through the very few digital pictures that I have on my computer, looking for one to add to this post. But nothing truly encompasses our first born in one photo. So I decided today to write about him, which I hope I can draw a clearer picture than any camera could capture.
After being married a few years, we decided that it was TIME. After several months of 'practice' we managed to get pregnant. I suspected that possbily I might be in Dec. of 1993. I was working at Blattner Furniture and we had such a busy several weeks at work, I had finally been too busy to worry about it not happening, so I bought a PG test. Of all the potentially dumb ideas, I took the test Christmas morning and after looking at these tests several times before and nothing, there was finally that second line coming into focus, not that I could see it for the tears. But there it was proof our miracle had happened. So, then how to tell David. I found a small box and wrapped the test up and as we concluded unwrapping gifts we got for each other, I said I had one more thing and gave it to him. Somewhere there's even a picture of his shocked expression upon opening the box...... We were expecting our first of four bundles of joy. We kept it our little secret for a while, but not long, we told our family about two or three weeks after we knew. I had hideous morning sickness, horrible heartburn and swelled up like a tick before Labor Day weekend 1994 managed to get here. Cody was due at the end of August, but if I had listened to myself instead of medical calculations, I would have realzied that he was right on time. My water broke and sort of trickled and I messed around with contractions off and on all day Sunday the 4th. We went to bed Sunday night after one more round of nesting (I did that ALOT TOO, probably the cleanest my house has ever been!) At 1:15am I woke up to not feeling so well. By 3 I was in the recliner. Nothing helped. Told David go and feed I would let him know if anything changed. By 7am I was in tears when he came back in to check on me. Per the labor and delivery nurses advice, we started walking, and after maybe an hour of that, we decided to get ready and think about going to the hospital. Contractions were cruising along like clock work every 5 minutes, all the way to the hospital. We got there and they all but stopped. When the nurses decided that contractions or not, I was certainly in labor, they started giving me pitocin and away we went...... that progressed slowly all afternoon and into the evening. Finally my brave front was over as I said those words known to most moms........... BRING ON THE EPIDURAL!! After that everything got complete in about 2 hours, well after 2 MORE HOURS OF PUSHING, at 11:37PM, we finally had our son. So I spent all but 38 minutes of Labor Day 1994 in labor. But it was well worth it.
OUR son is someone who it absolutely chokes me up to think about how proud I am of him. (Yes the bragging is starting now) He's such the typical oldest child, he has a strong work ethic, he's very mature and responsible and does most everything we ask, yes he's still a boy and sometimes we have to ask more than once. But he is a pleaser and does what he can to please us and others around him as much as he can. He's smart as a tack. The gifted class in school is just one of the many places he shines. We received his school acheivement test scores in the mail yesterday and once again, he did so well. And regardless of how he did, his reaction last night when I told him was 'YES!' he had pushed himself he said to try and do better than before, which considering this is a kid who ranks in the top 5% for the state, that is a proud momma moment in and of itself.
He cracks me up. He's a funny kid. His deadpan humor is mind blowing...... When he was 6 and we were on vacation and he had asked David for about the 8th time is this the town we are stopping in (because we had promised to stay somewhere with a pool) and his father said the next time you ask, you're getting out and walking home (because we are so tough, ha!) Cody didn't miss a beat and said matter of factly, 'Well I will need a map' This left us in hysterics for miles (probably till we finally got to the town!)
He's my little 'Linus' with his 'Bobby' (blanket) and the cute hair that stuck out from every direction and still does if he lets it get that long. He's the skinny kid who needed 27x32 jeans for school this year. The kid who says after a week of summer break we need some new books, I've read everything in this house. He's the kid who would rather eat fruit than chocolate. Who has committed to memory every little known fact about all the presidents, and delights in playing his own personal game of presidential trivia, whether or not the other person wants to play. He went from this teeny little guy with hands that you could feel the delicate little bones as there wasn't any fat in the palms of his hands yet, to this guy I look up to now physically and continue to emotionally with these hands that are bigger than mine and these fingers that could probably palm a basketball if he wasn't a dedicated wrestler. He's me, he's David, but mostly he's Cody, our son who we love so much.
There are many more stories, but I won't bore you with a mile long blog. Besides I have birthday gifts to wrap, and something to cook towards a birthday treat (my unpicky kid won't care, so I have to figure something out!).
Today is the first in my next two months of birthday 'season' with three more very special days coming up. I remember as a kid thinking my birthday was the greatest day in the year outside of Christmas. That was until I became a mom, now there are four other days which overshadow my own day, without even trying. So I must close now so that I have time to look at baby books and albums before my first baby gets home this afternoon.
From Tulip~
Cody's Mom~
KH

What's for Lunch?

2008-09-02T13:04:00.003-05:00

Hey there
It's a new month and it almost feels like the school 'routine' mentioned in my last blog is normal again. The kids always bring home the school menus for the month and we sit down and review and talk about what their choices are, what they will pick, or whether we need to fix a lunch from home to take. With Cody it's a review of all offered and which days will require 'X-tra' from home. Oh to have the metabolism of a soon to be 14 yr old boy...........
Anyway, I know that I always struggle to come up with enough things that I think are healthy, that are easy to send along, quick and easy to eat, and are things that they like well enough to gobble up.
I noticed this interesting article which I thought held some good advice, that I thought that I would share:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26352602/
We have a food service in our school district, which I am not the biggest fan of, but I do think about how hard it is for me to come up with quick and easy different things that are inexpensive, etc etc and realize this might be the best bet for the district. I just wish that my kids ate a broader range of foods, so that they would love all the choices, etc.
My little salad eater, Jenna, picked the salads that are offered as a daily choice, she like the regular chef salad, but has also discovered that salad with stuff on top as she says are great as well, she likes the Popcorn Chicken Salad, the Smoked Turkey Salad and some of the others. Where I have seen my boys take a bag of dry cereal or unfortunately chips to the living room to snack on, THANK GOD, Jenna will do the same with the bags of salad that you can now buy in the stores. In fact she will generally eat an entire bag in just a couple of days if given the opportunity!
Well besides school and lunch there's lots going on around here. In the last week we've frozen almost 80 quarts of corn from our patch. I am planning to can grape juice concentrate this evening, waiting for the grapes to get into the shade before picking (and hoping my allergy meds kick in soon as well) Today Gladys is getting her knee replaced at Boone Hospital, should be there 2 or 3 days to any who are intersted in knowing that. We travelled to Springfield MO Friday to attend the funeral of her brother Dallas Jaeger. It was a neat service, both of his sons spoke and I was very impressed with the poise they showed, not sure that in their shoes, I could have held it together to get all shared that they did. Last Friday night was also the first HS Football game for Centralia, which they won 65 to 0 to Louisana, MO. Cody went with the guys who annouce it on the radio and had a great time. Our friend James Fashing who is doing the photos for Farm and Ranch Living came out Saturday morning and got several shots of lots of things that happen around here. He's coming back this evening for the 'posed' portrait to send in with our diary entries.
Cody will be 14 on Friday, with him being born on Labor Day, all day yesterday in my mind felt like his birthday. He's old enough that he no longer wants any sort of public acknowledgement of the day, so I won't be taking treats to school anything so embarrassing. I did conveniently mention it to the radio guys and they have already mentioned harrassing him next week during this last weeks radiocast.......... Gotta hold up my role as embarrassing parent, you know!
Better get back to my list of to-do's, the list seems long today........
From Tulip~
KH

Routines

2008-08-27T16:00:00.002-05:00

Well we are falling back into our school year routine. I have to say as much as i like staying up till all hours, I am kind of liking this. Last night everyone was in bed by 9 pm. Enough time for David and I to be able to watch a movie, and actually stay awake to watch it. We watched August Rush, fyi, great 'feel good' type of movie. David always hates endings that are assumed. But it ends great, has good story, one your kids can watch, the closest thing to an adult scene is August's parents making out. I can' tthink of any cuss words that were in it. Those with Dish, its on pay per view, for $1.99.
The kids are getting into a routine, they are actually doing homework first when they get home, taking showers without too many arguements, making their beds and brushing their teeth.............. oh wait maybe that is only Jenna. No not really, the big boys are doing fine also.
Seth and I have a routine, it's work on a job, wait for Mom to get distracted, and go to visit Grandma Gladys. But it's routine I suppose. I figure by mid September I might catch up on all that gets done to the minimum all summer long, I am starting wonder if I will ever catch up!!
Speaking of routines, I have boy to pick up at football soon.
From Tulip~
KH

Have I lost my mind? MAYBE!!

2008-08-23T19:44:00.002-05:00

I have started a SECOND blog. I plan to blog about my catering/cooking biz. It's pretty basic right now, but I plan to add to it alot and soon. It's at www.gonecountrygourmet.blogspot.com you'll be able to find info about my events that I am catering, foods that I prepare, maybe a few recipes and more. I sometimes think that I don't keep this one up to date, how in the heck will I do two.............. who knows, wish me luck!
From Tulip~
KH

Dirt

2008-08-19T15:47:00.000-05:00

There is just something about little boys and dirt that draws me in everytime. Maybe it explains why I fell in love with a farmer or makes it a blessing in my life to have three sons who all can get and have gotten really dirty from time to time. We are in this new mode of life now, Seth and I, at home all day together. If I go outside he goes with me. If he's outside and I come out, he goes somewhere else. Kind of a one way street, Mommy has to check in with him, but he doesn't feel the need to check in with me! Little turkey. I did catch him at the sandbox awhile ago and he indulged his mothers need to capture moments of fun and play featuring a dirty little boy. (For those who are wondering, yes that's our sandbox in the background, and YES its the top ring of a hog feeder, we use the lid too, works great, and the cats stay out!!!!)
Not quite as weep-y today about my little girl going to school. The report yesterday afternoon was that she had a great time, went to recess twice, and ate salad for lunch. Sounds good to me. Got the usual from Sam, yeah it was okay. Cody was pretty tight lipped about his day. He was pretty wore out from the first day of football practice. Then his father decided that he needed a little more 'conditioning' and we hauled 250 bales of grass hay after he got home last night. No, nobody made bedtime last night and we were lucky that there wasn't any reprocussions (sp?) this morning. We will all ease into this transition I suppose, probably just in time for the next one start................
From Tulip~
KH

Almost a First Day of School Picture

2008-08-18T10:08:00.000-05:00

Well modern technology kicked my backside this morning! My camera was DEAD! So no official first day of school picture! I have been such a basket case, that about sent me on over the edge! OMG!!!! The above picture was taken Thursday night before going to 'Back to School' night........ so guess it will have to do for now! Been an emotional few days. I haven't even been able to look at Jenna without tearing up. Last night, I couldn't breathe I was so overcome with emotion. Makes you all look forward to two years from now! huh?!!?!?
To top it off, Mr 'Puberty' wanted to shave last night when he got out of the shower.................... Weepy Momma weekend!
Got them to school and my 'angel' with camera in tow, James Fashing was right there to take a few more pictures for the Farm and Ranch Living article............. so guess I will have a few pictures, of course I am in them, so that's not always a plus! :)
Anyway, Seth and I are 'busy' today, so I must get back at it, just wanted to get on and say, hi and I survived another kiddo starting school. (and she will be back home in 6 more hours! :)
From Tulip~
KH

Grooming Lessons

2008-08-15T10:14:00.000-05:00

The boys are really starting to do alot more of the grooming with David advising them on technique. Here Sam is trimming the hairs along the tail head for a nice straight even line. I think it's good that they are doing more, as we are getting more and more calves every year and in two more years Jenna will be showing as well, and two after that Seth will be. So everyone is going have to be good at all jobs in order to get everything ready for the show ring.
Feeling a little better about the changes since the earlier posts. I am just reminded that on the farm as in life change is constant. Sam's heifer had her calf last night and Jenna and I just went out to see it. I just have to remind myself that my kids and their calves and life are constantly changing. Maybe I ought to dig out my rose colored glasses.........
From Tulip~
KH

Cody's 'lap steer'

2008-08-15T08:46:00.000-05:00

Bubba absolutely loves laying his head in Cody's lap. You know since he reminds you so much of a little lap dog. LOL

Bath Time

2008-08-15T08:40:00.000-05:00

Jenna was comforting Buddy while he had his bath the morning of the steer show. The steers have been washed and fitted so many times by now that they really don't seem to mind. She was wearing Sam's new hat.
I am kind of feeling sad this morning, we sent the steers to the sale barn last night. We obviously always do this, but I don't always know it happened till after the fact. And like my oldest said, I would rather not know before hand. Makes blogging these pictures kind of hard. So I am going to try and get them all done as fast as possible, you may not get the 'in depth' story that I normally offer, sorry.
From Tulip~
KH

Afterwards....

2008-08-14T14:34:00.000-05:00

Doesn't the smile say it all? Jenna had a GREAT TIME showing and I think Rosel (Schmidt, our neighbor) is ready for Jenna to be her little show jock. Not as confident that Daddy is going to approve. Jenna looked so cute, it's not everyone who can pull off jeans and a sundress like she can! Our little cowgirl insisted on wearing her boots EVERYDAY at the fair and was only mad when I didn't pack jeans for everyday to wear along with them. We had several fashion combinations that I am sure will lead to the newest trends, a dress and boots, capris and boots............ Dressing for school this fall may prove interesting.
From Tulip~
KH

Getting ready for the Leadline

2008-08-14T13:21:00.000-05:00

State Fair, setting up at the Barn

2008-08-14T13:12:00.000-05:00

We got to the State Fair on Saturday afternoon and set up our camp. Then after receiving our stall assignments on Sunday morning we went right to work. We had taken our Club 4-H sign which Sam was hanging up when I snapped this picture. We stalled with Melanie Kable, the younger sister of our brother in law, Jason. We had a pretty busy day Sunday, we sat up the stalls in the barn, weighed the steers, who weighed, Buddy at 1305 and Bubba at a whooping 1540, then had to go over to the Sheep Barn and get Jenna ready to do the 'Pee Wee Leadline' We enjoyed a great lunch at the exhibitor cafeteria. We bbq-ed steaks for supper. Saturday night was plenty cold for sleeping but the day on Sunday was beautiful temps, then Sunday was a little warmer. It didn't look like to us that there were as many people at the fair this year, but the ones who did attend couldn't have asked for better weather.
From Tulip~
KH

Jenna Claire Barn Diva

2008-08-14T12:56:00.000-05:00

Caught this photo of Jenna the evening tha twe were clipping the steers before going to the State Fair, thought it was a cute one.

Crew Cuts

2008-08-14T12:49:00.000-05:00

Here was my trio of goofballs after their haircuts 'pre-State Fair' The first photo included too big of smiles and no eyes and then this one as you see is bug eyed..............oh well.

4H Swim Party

2008-08-05T08:33:00.000-05:00

Here's Jenna, the only one of my children who could stop long enough during the swim party to get her picture taken. Sunday night was our annual 4H Swim Party. We had a short meeting and light supper then enjoyed the pool. I even went down the water slide, in fact several times. Of course was reminded the next morning that I am no spring chicken anymore, with a sore neck and back, etc etc. It was either the water slide or a certain pair of young men my oldest and my adopted even older 5th child, Cody and Matt, who thought it was necessary to dunk me!!! Anyway this week is a busy one, we are getting ready for the State Fair. Just sent David out the door with warm pies to his COC mtg and the kids and I are headed out shopping for 'stuff' for the fair. Probably won't get a chance to be on here again till next week. Hope everyone is having a great summer.
Watching the rain drip off the awning of my office window,
From Tulip~
KH

2008-08-05T08:05:00.000-05:00

The Big 4-0 times two

2008-08-04T19:02:00.003-05:00

We went out to eat Saturday night with several friends. Two of our friends, Regina Evans and Lance Leighton were both turning 40 on Sunday, Aug. 3rd. We all met for supper at the Rio Grande restaurant in town. After supper they both got icecream, which is what it all over their faces and shot of whiskey, plus the wonderful sombrero, which they took turns wearing. The waiters sang Happy Birthday in Spanish. After supper we went to the Saddle Salon where there were even more people there to help them celebrate even more. They got some gag gifts, and we all had a great time.

Regina is the mother to one of Sam's best buddies, Jackson Evans. Jack was one of the boys who stayed all night, Friday night. Lance's son Ethan wrestles in the wrestling club wth the boys.

From Tulip~

Say hello to my little friend

2008-08-02T08:16:00.001-05:00

I thought that the bee on the flower was cool. Sam who had been right beside me while taking these flower pictures, was gone. After my Dad's experience this summer with the bees and Sam getting stung while raking hay, he's just a little uneasy around them. Can't say that I blame him, but this little guy was to busy to worry about us.

so what is this one?

2008-08-02T08:10:00.000-05:00

I know what this flower is, but I have had two people who looked at the pictures ask if it was something else and the more I think about it I agree it looks like another flower other than what it really is. Any guessers?????????

the Flowerbeds at the Dam lookout platform

2008-08-02T08:06:00.000-05:00

The other night while the rest were watching the water at the dam, I got distracted by the great flower beds at the look out platform. Since I didn't get ANY flowers planted this year, I was glad to get the opportunty to get up close and personal with these flowers. Isn't this one great? (its currently our desktop background)

Okay last Dam picture

2008-08-01T08:52:00.000-05:00

Here's another shot, of the backside of the dam. The trees you see out in the water are normally on each side of the little stream that generally flows away from the dam. That's about it for my dam pictures. Sam was fascinated by it all and really likes to 'play' with our tech toys, took several pictures with our camera and a few with my cell phone. He took a little video clip as well, and if we had faster internet where I could get it to upload, I would share it with you all, but one of those 'perks' of country living and being too tight to pay for DSL is that we have slow dial-up internet.
I spent most of my time at the 'dam' taking pictures of flowers. They have some beautiful flower beds around the lookout area where we were. Hopefully I will get a chance to post some later. Today is a busy day. Headed to town for my one mommy indulgence, trip to the 'salon' and back to town later to pick up a couple of Sam's buddies for a sleepover. August starts our diary and our month as hosts at church, plus all the other madness that goes on here, so I better get to it. Have a great weekend and try to stay cool, (predicting 100 degree weather here!!)
From Tulip~
KH

More Dam Pictures

2008-08-01T08:40:00.000-05:00

The back side of the dam was probably the most extreme thing that we looked at. There's normally this little 'stream' that flwoing away from the dam. Not the wild turbulent whirlpool that we saw last night. A still shot like this fails to show the churning of the water, but definitely gives you an idea of how wild it all was. The 'blue' U shaped thing on the far side of the water was a dike built up with stand to protect the electrical substation, we estimated that would possibly protect against another 35 feet of higher water, which David thought would only be necessary if the dam broke, which I suppose they were concerned about! YIKES! Can't see it in this picture, but along the road that goes down to the substation there was a ditch FULL of seep water, not a comforting feeling..........

Dam PIctures

2008-08-01T08:29:00.000-05:00

Well nosiness got the best of us. After hearing about the water and watching the lake levels as recorded online, and just having to see it for ourselves. Last night we drove over to Clarence Canon Dam on Mark Twain Lake. I guess I didn't get the 'perfect shot' but it's not as if they wanted people getting any closer than we were, and with my less enthusiastic feelings about heights, that much water, bridges, etc......... well let's just say I was close enough.
Here's some info about what is going on there:
The lake is 30 feet above flood pool. This is because of all of the flooding along the Mississippi river and their efforts to hold back some of the water, well now we have a 'mess'
The 'normal' amount of water running through there is 12,000 cubic feet per second. (anyone interested 1 cubic foot equals 7.48 gallons, do the math!)
The current amount running through the dam is 58,000 cubic feet per second which we did the math and its over 433,000 GALLONS per second, OMG!
There are four flood gates, which last night they had open 7 feet high and each gate is 32 feet wide, so I guess it makes it easy for that much water to run through.... (433,000+ gallons!!!)
Pretty mind blowing. Those in our group braver than me, which would be all the rest (my husband, my kids, my in laws) walked along the pedestrian walkway over the dam. David was thrilled to tell me that it really shook alot when you were standing over the flood gates. Great, my head was spinning and I was feeling faint just walking maybe 40 out onto the bridge, no where near the 'vibration'
Anyway, it's something that hopefully we won't see every year (or ever again!), and looks like the lake workers have alot of things to contend with to get the lake back to normal. There was some sort of net catching the debris and keeping it from dam, which I am guessing will keep several people busy for quite some time getting rid of that mess.
There was water in places I have never seen water before over there. Truly a sight, any of you locals who are nosey like us, go check it out.
From Tulip~
KH

Farm and Ranch Living

2008-07-30T12:07:00.002-05:00

Well it's a couple of days till our month of being diariasts begins. I have spoke with the photographer, James Fashing. James grew up in Sturgeon and is a 'farm kid' and now works for the MFA magazine, Today's Farmer. So who better to take pictures for our story. Someone we know and someone more than used to tromping around in the mud to get the 'picture'. We are really looking forward to doing this.
Reiman Publications is the parent company for several well known magazines, Country, Taste of Home, Country Woman, Birds and Blooms and many more. I love these magazines, they're full of wonderful articles and not full of ads. I feel like you get more magazine for your money. Here is their website:
http://www.reimanpub.com/Revise/Magazines.asp
Go and check out their magazines, I think that there is truly something for anyone to read about in one magazine or the other. I hope you all enjoy them as much as we do.
Make sure to go to our cousins' blog and read about the flood water of Mark Twain Lake. We really have an 'abundance of water' and they are really starting to run into some problems there. She has a great article linked in her blog about the lake and all the water problems. (it's Kim, Scott and Jay Hasekamp, her blog is on my blog list, FYI)
We are playing 'catch up' around here this week, trying to get the house back in order and do all the things that need to happen before school starts around here, which is less than three weeks away. Shopping, last minute sleepovers, organizing, etc etc etc...... end of the summer stuff, seems like I just blogged about beginning of summer stuff. Times flies, when you're up to your eyeballs.
From Tulip~
KH

Thank You Lonnie Wolfe for buying Sam's Ham!

2008-07-25T21:56:00.000-05:00

Sam also sold his HAM and was the lucky 'victim' of a bidding war between Lonnie Wolfe of CPS and I think Shelton's. He was totally thrilled to get $450 for his ham, just $10 under the Grand Champion. Great night for the boys and a great way to end the fair. Now we just look forward to showing steers at State Fair and having a little fun before School starts.
From Tulip~
KH
PS~noterthat Sam is sort of smiling.............

Thank You Boyd Harris for buying Cody's Ham!

2008-07-25T21:49:00.000-05:00

The serious ham seller, Cody, at the Audrain Fair Ham and Livestock Sale. Cody was thrilled to sell his Ham for $400 dollars!! THANK YOU BOYD!!!! This is such a great tool for the boys to save some money for the future. We buy the hams for around $25 a piece and the boys do the work which all of it doesn't add up to much more than about a half days' work. But as the mean parents that we are, we make them put ALL the money into their savings. Their savings accounts are full of Ham Sale and Show Steer checks, birthday money and the rare occurance that we manage to get some extra floated their way. We keep telling them to study hard and make good grades, hopefully some scholarships will also help pay for college.
From Tulip~
KH