Hay Days

 Our hay harvest began as soon as it could after the rains stopped. 

The men wanted a couple more balers in the field, so they started thinking of who could help them.  The help was right here in the family, but I wasn't one of the volunteers - I just don't do well staying up all night and wasn't too excited about the whole idea at this age.   But I wasn't useless - I helped out, just in a different way.

 

Of Course Terry, Thomas, and Michael were each on balers.  New to the crew this year was Dana, who baled every night with the guys.  I kept the grandkids here so she could go bale.

One night I added another grandchild to the party so Tawnee could go bale. 

I know ..., I had the easiest job and the most fun!

Anthony helped bale two nights and BrittanyJo baled one night.  (It's a little harder when you have to get up for school the next day.  Sometimes you don't get up, you just come in from the field and get ready for school.)

This was the first year for the girls.  Now that they all have learned how to bale, we have extra people.  That's a good thing.

 

Here is the fun part - grandchildren at the house.

Auger and Akleigh spent a lot of time with us while Dana was helping throughout parts of the day and being here other parts of the day, and we had everyone here for most of the meals.  We had a great week.

 

We had a lot of toys being used and enjoyed, like this train Auger is playing with.

 

Babies received love from Akleigh.

 

 

 I did the cooking, and the cleaning, except for one day when Dana and BrittanyJo had some time in the kitchen making pizza and desserts.   We were a farm family at it's best, working, eating, playing, and sleeping in the same house.  (Except the baler work wasn't in the house of course.)  There were several meals where we would have 11 people around our dining table again.  It's a fun thing!

One morning while everyone was trying to catch up on some much needed sleep, the two kids and I made some cowboy cookies.  We had a lot of fun.  When their mommy asked them what they wanted for breakfast they told her they already had it - cookie dough and cookies.  Um!  Isn't that what gramma's are for?   I tried to give them cereal, but they were not interested.  Akleigh did have a piece of bread!  Oatmeal for breakfast isn't bad right?  There is oatmeal in cowboy cookies. ;)

 

I love having the grandkids around, and enjoy seeing their advancements.  Elsie is scooting around and loving life.  She is a happy and pleasant little gal.  We love her, and Akleigh wants to be with her all the time when we are together.

 

 

I LOVE FAMILY!

 

Oh, the hay got baled and the kids returned to their own homes ...,  and ..., yip, at times I feel like I'm going thru withdrawals. 

 

Funny thing -  I have been quite tired even though I didn't bale.  I did stay up later than normal, and I never sleep well when Terry is gone, and I feel like I was up all night with them.    I am always tired when the guys bale.   I can only imagine how tired they are, because they were the ones working.  Silly thing huh!  I'm tired because they baled! 

Must be Sympathy Pains!

 

Oh Bother!

 

Trip to Brayden's Baptism

We made a quick trip to Blythe California last weekend for our oldest grandchild's baptism.

It was such a special occasion. 

 

We might be a bit prejudice, but we sure love this family and think they are pretty special.

 

Adena, Ethan, Tawny, Brayden, Gregory and Madeline

 

While we were there we visited and played and enjoyed being together.

 

 

 

 

We also celebrated a birthday - Maddie's birthday is on the 22nd, and they waited to celebrate it while we were there.  She is such a cute little gal.

 

 

 

 The trip was short and sweet and special. 

The baptism was wonderful.

I'll have to post a pic of the baptism day after I borrow from Adena.  I was too concerned with making sure I had my talk with me, and didn't get the camera to that event.  My Bad!

 

 

 

Photos will be coming!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mother's Day Report

We had a very happy Mother's Day.

 

It started several days ago with yard work.  Terry and the guys had been so busy with farm work, and I have been busy with other things and the weather was not something I wanted to be out in much this spring so the yard was left unattended. I must say however, that I have worked in the yard - and have spent much time there, but we do have a big yard and parts of it was looking kinda scary. ;)

So, since they had some time to help, they came in and cleaned up this yard so that it looks like someone lives here now..., and cares.  There is still more to do, but much has been done and it's looking great!  Happy Mother's Day to me!  I love it!

 

Michael and Tawnee are home from college, and we love to see them often.  We are enjoying those cute smiles from Elsie and look forward to the many more to come.

 

We got to talk to all of our children within two days time.  Some called Saturday so they could make sure to not interrupt the missionary calls.  And, I was able to visit with my mother.

I thought about taking photos a time or two, but only got these two - on the phone at the same time,  Michael talking to Elder Connor Hebdon and Thomas talking to Elder Chase Hebdon.

We had a great meal and a very relaxed and wonderful day.

We had the family over again Monday evening to help finish off some of the food and another gift came in the mail on Monday, so

this holiday continues to be a great holiday for me, and I hope it is for you too.

Bonus:

Look what I found in my junk box this morning.  Good thing I checked it before I deleted it.
I didn't recognize the name of the sender, but the subject line did say Elder Hebdon and Elder Johnson. 

And now ... I think it's time for something from the past.

BJo enjoying the flowers - August 1997

Roasting marshmallows at a family campout at Ensign - Summer 2002
Chase, Elaine, Anthony, BrittanyJo

Gregory helping rake the lawn -  May 1985

 

 Gregory and Brandon helping with the dishes -

 

 

 Oh! Connor must have been full - June 1995

Is this one of those new-fangled push mowers?  It's a fun one whatever it is!
Skyler on the mower, Thomas, Gregory, Brandon pushing the mower - Summer 1990

Thomas hugging his mom - Dec. 2004 - Just before he left for his mission.

 

In the hospital bed - Chase and Michael adoring Connor - April 1994

Looking for pumpkins - Gregory planted this garden before leaving for his mission - Chase, Thomas, Brandon, Connor, Michael, BrittanyJo and Terry - Fall 2001

 

 

 That was fun huh!

I am so glad that I'm a mom!
 

 

 

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY! / HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

 

For now, my Mother's Day post will consist of a link to another post I did about Mothers.  But, I'll be back to post more about Mother's Day, after our phone visits and family gathering.

 

Here is the post I did for My Stuff Room / Galore-ious Stuff

No More Noble Work

 

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY !

 

 

(9:30am update)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ANTHONY !

Did you count the candles?  15!

We exchanged gifts - actually, he gave me mine first.
He had a tennis match (all day) yesterday (alllllll day), and sneaked these home for me.  I didn't know until this morning.  Surprise! 

Beautiful red roses from my youngest son / child.
Quite thoughtful, don't you think!

I love my family!
Have a Wonderful Mother's Day!
(I am!)
(Actually, it's been a wonderful Mother's Day all week! - more on that later)


 

Tonight's The Night!

RHS Prom

 

Look at these beautiful people!

 

Kayla, Tanner, BrittanyJo, Jackson

 

(This prom dress is the project I was working on, and showed a little peek, in this previous post.) 

 

 

 

I saw this at Landee see Landee do and thought it was cute.

 

 

As for my missionaries -

 

Chase was transferred this week to Dayton.

Connor is still in Titusville.

Both are doing well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another Doctor Report

We had a visit with the oncologist and are continuing the same course as was determined last visit.

 

- Though they are still low, Terry's blood counts are better than they have been for awhile so he continues to hold (or does not take) the oral chemo, Revlimid. This is what I was hoping for.

 

- SCCA will continue the search for un-related donor. He had some blood drawn for "typing" (to help find a match). We don't know how long it will take to find a match, but we do know that we don't plan on heading to SCCA for transplant until after this year's harvest is complete.

 

- Take medication to help get over the cold he has (again).  An illness always changes blood counts, so it's hard to know for sure what they would be without the cold. 

 

Here is the lab report with the last four appointments -

You'll see that the white blood counts and neutrophils are better this time.

The counts I usually report are listed here

WBC

RBC

Platelet Count

Absolute Neutrophils

(You might also like to take note of the Neutrophils, as they have improved too.)

 

 

We've been trying to watch the calcium and potassium, and are pleased with those counts, however he has been having some awful muscle cramps the last few days.  I'm blaming it on the long and hard hours he has been working this spring.  It's just becoming too much for him.  We look forward to slowing down soon.   

There is a second page with a few more counts, but I didn't scan it - things look good there.

 

 

I Love My Family!

It was great to have Skyler and Lisa and Claire with us for a few days.  We love them and will miss them as they embark on their new adventure ..., so far away in Oklahoma ..., but we are excited for them. 

 

Here are a couple pictures we got (clear and viewable) to share.

 

 

Akleigh just loved Claire and kept kissing her head. 

 

Fun Fact:

 Akleigh found a chocolate kiss (she is very much like her grandma in that respect and just had to eat it) it didn't take long for us to find Claire's head dotted with "chocolate kisses" from Akleigh.  We should have taken a picture of her chocolate lipstick stains. ;)

 

We got a couple other photos that didn't turn out so well, and now realize that more time should have been spent trying to document that visit.

 

I loved the time we had to visit, and I was able to do quite a bit of it, but for much of the time my hands were occupied (and some of my thoughts too I guess). 

 

Here is a peek at what was keeping my hands so busy.

 

 

 

But, you'll have to wait for the completed project.  I finished the necessary things last night at about 10:20 pm, but now I'm working on a few things that will just help it feel better - trimming it up.... (my fingers are sore and tender right now!  Ouch! and parts of the house are laden with trails of glitter.)

 

I'll post more about it when the time is right!  ;)