My little girl

My little girl is growing up. We went to the last football game last night as a family. Well we went to the game together. HA!! It was funny, but sad to watch her. After we went through the gate she asked if she could have a couple dollars to get a drink with. I looked at her funny. I said are you not walking in with us? She said well yes to the PTO Stand. We walked her to the PTO stand and off she went to the stands with her friends. I guess we aren't cool anymore to hang around. Tanner didn't hang around us very long either. He pretty much stayed with his buddies, although he would come by and see us for money. Bert and I stood in the endzone and watched the game with friends. Tanner sat down with his buddies in the endzone and tried to concentrate on the game. A little hard when it is more appealing to run around with your friends.
It was so cute this morning. I went outside and we have made it a habit to tell Cotton (the steer) goodbye when we leave of a morning. Well this morning it was just me leaving because the kids didn't have school. I went up to the gate and told Cotton goodbye and he started walking towards me. He came over and sniffed me and I talked to him for a second. He watched me pull out of the driveway. I just kept waiting for him to wave, but he didn't. HA!! I think this steer is going to break my heart when he has to leave our farm. I don't know that we have had one with such a good personality. Cotton is a keeper.

Weekends

We had a really fun weekend this past week. Carlee got her steer on Saturday his name is Cotton. He is just as fluffy as a cotton ball. She is very excited. Carlee and Bert worked with him on Saturday, and then when I got home on Monday night Carlee was out brushing him again. I think Cotton is going to get a lot of attention from Carlee. They are becoming quite the buddies. We went and watched Brianna play in the Championship Volleyball tournament on Satruday afternoon. It was so good. They won first place. She was so excited. They received very nice placques. I was so proud of her. We all got together for a celebration party as Bob called it. We had pizza at the house and the kids played together. Carlee and her friend Caitlyn McKibben dressed up Payton and Laney. Oh my goodness they were so much fun to watch. We had a baker, cowboy, and hunter. The kids had a lot of fun and then adults had a good time laughing at the kids. What fun!!! Koen and Ellie had their durags on. Carlee fixed them right up. Koen is crawling. How cute is that. He cracks me up because he is so laid back.
Sunday all the Edge grandkids met at the Pumpkin Patch except Ellie. She was resting with Grandma Robbie. The kids had a really good time. They played so hard in the corn tub. I am really not sure how much corn we all ended up with down our shirts and pants. Tanner and Brianna went through the corn maze about 10 times I think. They had a great time. It was cute to watch all the kids try to pick out which pumpkin or gourd that they wanted to take home. It was such a fun time for the kids and us.
Sunday night I have never laughed so hard. I needed that so much. We had congregational singing and then the children's choirs sang. Brianna and Payton did an awesome job. Payton didn't sing a whole lot, but she stood up there and did a really nice job. Brianna had her motions down and sang out. Someone picked Jesus Loves Me to sing, well Payton knew the words to that one. She belted that out over the congregation. It was so cute. During prayer Payton kept saying Amen and Thank you Jesus. I think that she felt that Kevin needed to be done with the prayer. Tanner I felt so sorry for because I kept getting on to him because he was laughing so hard at Payton. The sad thing was that during the prayer I thought that both of us were going to lose it. You know I felt bad for laughing during prayer, but God must have known that I needed some laughter. He blessed with that all through the day on Sunday.

The kids

Well the kids did good with their report cards. They seem to be doing really good in school. I am very proud of them. Tanner is getting excited he is getting ready to start playing some basketball. It seems like the seasons go by so fast. I think the team he is playing on will start practicing in a couple weeks, so he is getting ready and excited to start something new. Carlee is suppose to go over to Casey's and pick up her steer today. Casey went up to Iowa yesterday and picked up Carlee's steer for her while he was picking up some for himself. I think she is getting excited to get her steer home and getting acquainted with him. I don't think Carlee has decided on a name yet. She is still working on that. Carlee is going to a dance tonight. She is suppose to meet a boy there, so she is starting to grow up. It is fun to watch her go and do things with her friends. A group of girls are going to meet at Pizza Hut and then go to the dance together to meet the boys that asked them to the dance. Cracks me up!!!! Bert and I are wondering if Carlee will even talk to the boy that she is meeting.

Fun Times

Well the kids finally got their school pictures back yesterday. They seemed to be very pleased with them. I thought they turned out really good. Tanner is back to normal and seems to be back on his feet after his illness. It is nice to see him up and picking on Carlee again. She probably doesn't think so though. Carlee and Bert worked really hard this weekend. They worked for Casey Wiss at his cattle sale. They worked most of the day on Saturday and then they were up at Casey's by 6:15 on Sunday. They washed around 50 head of cattle both days. I think Carlee had dishpan hands by the time she was done. They had a really good time though. On Saturday night we got to celebrate Jackson's birthday at Chicken Annie's followed by birthday cake at Grandma Barbara's. Jackson was very cute while he was eating his cake. Chocolate everywhere. I don't think poor Jackson got to open one of his gifts though with all of the sibling and cousins helping. The kids had a really good time together.
Here are Carlee and Tanner's school pictures. They are growing way to fast!!!!!

Been a while

I haven't posted very much this week. I guess time has gotten away from me. Carlee has been busy all week with tests all week for the end of first quarter. She went to the last 7th & 8th grade football game last night. She is going tonight to Homecoming game. She is really getting in to the socializing. It is neat to watch. Carlee marches in the homecomming parade today after school.
Tanner is still sick. I took him to the doctor on Tuesday and they gave him some antibiotics, and they are still not helping. Tanner is still running 100.5 fever, coughing, sore throat, and nasty nose. Bert is taking him back to the doctor today. I guess Dr. Grote wants to see him again. I am hoping they find something different to give him to help him get over this nasty stuff. Please say a little prayer for him today. Bert and I know it isn't a very high fever, but we are starting to worry about him a little bit. We just want to see our little guy up and jumping around again. It is weird to watch him lay around all week long.
Things have been pretty quiet around Lamar this week. I guess that is a good thing!!! Carlee and I are excited about going to watch Brianna play in her volleyball game Saturday. Her team is doing really good, and we haven't had a chance to watch her yet. We are really excited about that.

We have to find a name

Well here is a picture of Carlee's new Shorthorn steer. She seems to be very excited. Tanner thought Cotton would be a good name for him. He saw that name on a bull in another sale catalog. I am sure that Carlee will come up with something fun. I think she is getting excited for the show season to start. She only has 5 months to go. HA!!! We are suppose to go and pick him up by November 1st, so I guess the kids and I will get to go and see Iowa. I don't think that I have ever been. I guess this is a good excuse.

The weekend

Well we have had a busy weekend. Carlee and I left around 8:30 yesterday morning and headed to her school. The band marched in the Missouri Southern Homecoming Parade. The Lamar Middle School received 2nd place out of all the middle schools that attended. The kids were really excited. They looked really good, who would have thought that we would have over 100 kids in band in 7th and 8th grade. When we got back to town we started getting ready for the 4-H hayride at the house. Bert and Tanner pretty much had everything taken care of outside. The parents and kids had a lot of fun I think. We had around 60 people at the house for weiner roast and hayride. This is usually one of the biggest turn outs of the 4-H meetings. Tanner came inside he has been coughing for a couple days. When everyone left I came in to check on him and his eyes were beat red. Took his temperature and it was 102 degrees. He has been sick off and on today with just a fever, cough, and drainage. He is liking all the attention though. We have watched a lot of tv today.
Carlee received good news this morning. She is the proud owner of a pure white shorthorn steer from Iowa. She is very excited. All we have heard is that she just wanted another white calf. Well her dad found her one and Carlee won the bidding process, so we will be getting him soon. We have bid on a couple more today, so we will see what the outcome is on them. We should know something tonight. Carlee and Bert are really having fun with the bidding process over the phone. This is the first year that we have tried this. Bert has met some really nice people through it, so it has worked out nicely!

I am behind

I am behind on my posting. I first want to say thank you to everyone that prayed for Payton on Friday. Payton did really good through surgery. When Tara and Bob brought Payton home the sickness started. Poor little Payton started vomiting when they got home and it didn't let up until about 9:30. Payton was a little trooper though. She just trying to find things different things to make it better. It was to cute she would just say, "Make it all better". The way she would say it would just bring a smile to your face. Priceless is a good word for it.

Carlee had her last volleyball game on Tuesday. They ended their season with a bang and won the first two matches. Carlee did an awesome job with her serves. She told me Wednesday morning that she was disappointed that the season was over. She is wanting to play club volleyball now. I told her we would see how long that lasted, and the details of it.

Bert traveled to Iowa yesterday. He went with Cody Gariss. They went to look at steers, I think they stopped at several places between Missouri and Iowa. Crazy boys. They left around 6:00 am and they returned last night around 12:00. Bert said that they had fun and they saw a lot of different animals. He told me that he found some bargain heifers, so you know that isn't a good thing. Not only did he find some steers, but they also found some heifers. YIKES!!! Of course Bert looks at it as an investment, I just look at expense. HA!

The kids are excited for the weekend, we are having our 4-H hayride on Saturday night. We have a weiner roast and hayride. Carlee and I will be traveling to Joplin Saturday morning for her to march in the MSSU homecoming parade and then we will head back to get ready for the hayride. I think the kids are more excited than Bert and I. I just keep thinking oh my goodness my house is not clean yet. Of course what else would a woman think about. ha!!!!

It was nice

It was so nice last night. We all got to be at home and set at the dinner table together. It is funny because you would think as beef farmers you wouldn't run out of meat. HA! Not us. We had to have pancakes because we are out of meat. When I got home Bert was telling me that our meat was done at Cloud's and we could pick it up on Wednesday. I was so thankful that we may not have to eat pancakes the rest of the week. I think he said we had 1700 lbs of meat coming between his parents and us. I stopped and thought about that for a while. How lucky we are to have that luxury of having that meat in the freezer just waiting for us to eat it. Sometimes we don't realize how blessed we really are. There are times where I have so many wants, like a new car. HA!! (Bet you can't tell what I think about a lot) I set back and think, but I am so lucky because I have food on the table, healthy family, shelter, and great friends. What more can a person really ask for.

My request

I have a request from all of you that take time to read our blog. My sister's little girl Payton is going to be having surgery on Friday. I would like for all of you that read this blog take time to remember Payton in your prayers. Please also remember Bob and Tara, they are going to need God's hand on them while Payton is back having this procedure done. Please just ask that the Lord just gives them peace. I was reading some bible verses and this reminded me that God is always with us. I thought of Bob, Tara, and Payton when I read it.
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong & courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9
If you have time here is Bob and Tara's blog that shows pictures of their family. It is sometimes nice to have a picture of who you are praying for. http://www.btpklittlejohn.blogspot.com/

Thank you all for taking the time to pray for their family!!!

Payton with Spaghetti

Carlee had so much fun watching Payton eat her spaghetti. I have to show some pictures. Carlee had a blast taking them.

What a fun weekend

We had a lot of fun this weekend. I had to work on Saturday, but after I worked we spent good quality family time together. Carlee and Bert worked on painting some more fence while I was working. When I got home Tanner and Bert started to build fence on the east side of the house. In the evening Sara, Laney, Ellie, Bob, Tara, Payton, and Koen came out. We ate some spaghetti and the kids got to play together. The kids had a ball. Sara had to leave to go and pick up Brianna. Brianna got to go and play at a friends house. Bob and Bert got the job of putting a stick on stencil up on my family room wall. By the time they were done Bert hated me. HA!! I think Bob would have too, but he had already put two up for Tara at their house. He hated Tara first, so he knew what to expect. Sunday we all got together and had lunch at our house. We normally eat at mom and dad's but they are having cards at their house on Monday so didn't want to make a mess for them to clean up. Bert went over and got chicken from Chicken Mary's. It was pretty good eating!!! Payton and Brianna decided they weren't ready to go home, so they stayed and played at our house for a while. Payton and I went outside to watch a coyote out in the field. It was a big one, the sad thing it wasn't very far from the house. Brianna and Tanner played the game boys of course. We had a very nice time this weekend and enjoyed everyone's company.

Carlee has a volleyball game tonight. She only has three games left. It seems so odd that she is almost done. She has worked so hard. She asked us in the car the other night if there was somewhere that she could play in the winter. Bert and I told her we didn't think there was, she got so disappointed. It is nice to know that she is doing something that she really enjoys. We have a couple pictures of some of the volleyball games below.

Homestead

Well Sunday Bert decided that we needed to start painting our fences around our cattle lots. He brought the color hunter green home. Tanner and Bert started painting first and to tell you the truth it looks really nice from the house. It actually matches our shutters. We are getting ready to build some new fence on the east side of the house and it will all be green too. When Bert was unloading the pipe from the trailor Tanner please tell me dad that this isn't all going to have to be painted green too. Bert said Yes. Tanner was like oh my goodness. The green paint does look really nice when you drive up. You can really tell a difference. I can really tell a difference on my legs and arms where I got it on me and it won't come off. Bert forgot to mention that it was an oil base and it will be very difficult to come off. I look a little spotted. Tanner was asked at school if he had the chicken pox. Funny how when you get the chicken pox they are now green. HA!!! I am sure when we get Bert's painting project done it will look really nice.

Carlee had another volleyball game last night. We played Nevada, again. The girls did good last night. Our girls won the 1st match and then lost the next two. The third game was really good it was neck in neck, so they made it very exciting to watch. Carlee had to get up to be at practice at 6:30 this morning. She was dragging just a little when she left at 6:00. Coach Marti is taking them to a Missouri Southern volleyball game tonight. He is such a daring soul. He wants some of the parents to come along, but I haven't made up my mind yet. Bert has a livestock meeting tonight at the school, so it would be Tanner and I. I think the favorite thing for him at a volleyball game is the food and socializing. I guess we will see what the day brings, and go from there.

To wound

I don't think before I react sometimes. I try though. Carlee started crying at her volleyball tournament on Saturday. It broke my heart when I noticed she was crying when they were in the huddle. She immediately ran over to Bert and I. Bert was setting below me and she sat down really fast and broke down. She was so worked up because the coach had taken her out of the game because she was having trouble serving. It was hard for us to watch her get that upset. I am not sure that she was upset with the coach, but more upset with herself because the couple of serves hadn't gone over. I tried to encourage her as much as I could. I told her that there were others that were having the same problem with their serves and it would be ok. You know I don't know if that was the right thing to say or not. I don't want her to think we aren't proud of the way she plays no matter if she messes the whole game up we will still be proud of her. I forget how hard 7th grade can be. I always remember telling myself I never wanted to go back to 7th grade. I just hate to see Carlee having to go through all of it now. She is also struggling and being hard on herself because she has a B in one of her classes. I have tried to tell her it is ok to have a B, but I can't get that sunk in. I told her I had tons of B's. I just know that I don't ever want to be back in 7th grade again!!!!! If anyone has words of wisdom please enlighten me.

Volleyball

Well last night the girls came close to winning their first game. They lost yet again by about three point in a three match game. Carlee did good. The girls are all trying really hard. Coach Marti seems to be having fun, but this is first year to coach volleyball so it is a learning experience for him too. The 8th grade parents keep telling me that their girls didn't play that well last year and they only won 2 games last year. The 8th grade parents seem to encouraging that it is 7th grade is just a learning year.
Tanner seemed to have a good time. Bert and I felt like he was eating the whole entire game. I believe right now he is a bottomless pit. I can't seem to get him full. I am hoping that means he is growing. HA!! I can always hope my kids will be taller than me.
Today was picture day for Tanner, so he got up early to make sure he had his hair spiked just right. He had to make sure his pink shirt was ironed and his tan shorts were ready to go. He seemed to be really excited. I am not to sure why, but he was. Hopefully he will just remember to smile and not fake smile. HA!!

Evenings

I went and picked Carlee up from practice after work and then went and picked up Tanner from Sara's. Brianna had practice last night so I tried to get Laney to come home with us and play. She is to cute, because she just looks at me and says no. She is a mamma and daddy's girl right now. Tanner tried so hard to talk her in to it but she kept repeating the word no!! Sara told Tanner that before to long she will change her mind and want to go with us all the time. When we walked out of Sara's house Tanner said, Well poop I really wanted her to come out and play. I told Tanner hopefully before to long she will decide she can come and play without her mom right beside her. It was to cute.
Carlee had a big test she was studying for last night. We were trying to keep the house quiet for her. I asked Tanner if he would go on a walk with me. He said he would if he could take Bert's sorting cattle stick. Tanner and I headed out down the lane, we sang, skipped and did other stupid things. It is nice when you can go out and just never really have to think about anything else going on in the world. When we were headed back to the house I about stepped on something I had no idea what it was and I freaked of course. Then Tanner wanted to go back and see what it was. Well the thing I kept thinking was I can't walk fast enough. We got back to the lot where Bert was checking out the calves. He was trying to see which ones might be good prospects to show. Tanner told Bert of course how dumb I looked when I squealed. Bert asked what it was and I told him I thought it looked like a pigs foot, but I wasn't going back to see it. Tanner thought it was a snake. Tanner kept checking my legs to make sure it didn't bite me. I told him if it would have bit me he would have known it. Bert was curious so we walked back down to the object. He just laughed at me. It was some kind of bone that I am sure a wild animal had brought up. I think Bert probably thinks I am a really big sissy sometimes. I guess sometimes I am just not cut out to be a farm girl. I think if Tanner would have had his way he would have taken the bone in for show and tell. Needless to say Carlee had a nice quiet time to study for her test. I don't think she was bothered at all.
Carlee plays in Joplin tonight and plays against College Heights. I think she is really excited. She had picture day today and was all dolled up. I am hoping to take some pictures of Carlee playing so we can post them on here. She is having a really good time playing Volleyball.

Weekend

Well the weekend was full of fun and enjoyment. On Saturday we got to venture to Nevada and watch a pee wee football game. It was fun to watch Tanner's friends play some football. Tanner wanted one of his friends from Nevada to go to the Springfield Cardinal game with him, so we went up and watched him play football and headed to Springfield. The football game was pretty cute. All those little boys dressed in pads and helmets looked like little pros. When the game was over, we headed out to watch the Springfield Cardinals. The kids were really excited. When we got to the field Brock had come to his office and handed Carlee her jacket which he had signed by Marti #15 and Andrews #8. I guess Andrews went to the All Star Game this year. Carlee was pretty excited. Tanner got his Springfield Cardinal shirt with Rasmus on the back of it. Colby had signed. Of course as soon as we got up to the game Tanner had to put his shirt on. The game was pretty sad the Missons were winning 11 to 0 in the top of the 9th. The Cardinals had a burst of energy and scored 7 runs in the bottom of the 9th. That made the game a little more exciting. They had fireworks after the game and they were so neat. Your seats shook with the fireworks. The kids had fun watching them. They ended the year with a bang. Skyler, Tanner, and Bryson went down on the field at the end of the game and checked out the field. I think the boys had a really good time running out on the field. Skyler thought that was pretty neat.

Sunday was we had a really good lunch out at mom's and got to watch Payton eat her watermelon. I love to watch her eat her watermelon. She thinks that is the best!!!! She always has the juice everywhere, it is as cute as can be!!!! Carlee and I got to go to 4-H meeting that lasted 2 1/2 hours, but we planned the whole years worth of meetings. It sounds like we will have some fun meetings this year. Carlee told me last night that she wants to do Cake Decorating as one of her projects. I tried to talk her out of it, but couldn't. I just kept thinking oh my goodness I don't think I can help her with that at all!!! I guess she is going to try it, so we will have to try some cakes out on everyone.

I have a couple pictures of Carlee and Tanner. There is the calm one and the monkey. I am sure you don't even have to look at the pictures to know which is which!

Carlee with Alli Massa and Lauren Morgan. These are her friends from when we go out and show!!!

Here is my monkey boy Tanner. You just never know what he is going to be up to!!!

The Joy

I have been stressed out during the days at work and trying to forget about everything that is going on around me. I set and think about what the kids are doing at school and try to get through the day with thinking of them. When five o'clock hits I try to forget about work and everything that goes on there. There are times where it comes up in subject like in the newspaper or t.v. and it brings it all up again. It brings it all back and then I replay my day through my head. I try to find a way not to take it home but it is so hard. I try to watch my children and watch their smiles to enjoy my evenings. The kids have brought joys to my evening and I just want to say how blessed I am to have them. Last night the kids and I gathered our bibles up and for about 45 minutes we just sat and read bible stories. Tanner has pictures in his bible so he would look at a picture and get so excited to read that story. Carlee read to us about turning everything to God, and not gossiping and to forgive. I need to work on that leason for the two or three weeks I think. It was so nice not to have a tv going, or having to be at a certain place at a certain time. It is funny how your kids can teach you so many things and they never know that they have.
Carlee has been having quite a bit of homework and I have learned that Tanner just tells his teacher he doesn't have time. I asked Tanner Tuesday night if he had homework after we got home from Carlee's volleyball game. He looked at me and said, "Well Mrs. Weber told us to read tonight, but I told her I couldn't because Carlee had a volleyball game." I told him he really shouldn't do that and we will always find time for the homework. I have sat down wondering a couple times what poor Mrs. Weber is thinking about my son. I guess you can't blame the child for not trying to get out of the homework. I am beginning to wonder how I have one child that is so self concious about every assignment and then another that tells his teacher he just can't do his homework because he has something else going on. Wow!!!

First Game

Well Carlee enjoyed her very first school associated volleyball game. Carlee went to the game thinking she would not get very much playing time. When the game started she sat out the first match. They lost their first match against Jasper, the coach then decided to put Carlee in. I could tell she was really nervous yet excited. She went in there fighting. She did her serves very well, and then she returned some serves back to the other team. I could tell by the middle of the that match she was easing in to the game, and some of the nerves were starting to go away. Carlee got to finish off the win on that match with her serves. With both teams winning one match they had to play the 3rd match. Carlee got to stay in and play the 3rd match also. It was such a good game. They ended up losing the match by two points, but you could tell the girls had a really good time. They had nothing to hang their heads about at all!!! When Carlee was done she came up to the stands and you could tell that she had an awesome time!! The girls play again tonight and they play in Nevada, I am hoping the girls all have a good time tonight. I reminded Carlee before the game that she needed to pray to play to the best of her abilities because God is where you get your strength from. I asked Carlee this morning if she remembered to pray before the game and she said no actually I forgot to. I told her that it is important to pray before an event because if it wasn't for Christ we wouldn't have any of our talents. Of course Tanner had to chime in and he told Carlee that was why he says a prayer before his baseball games, because that is his talent. Carlee looked at me and said you know mom, I think we need to pray as a team. I told her that was an awesome idea!! I told her she needed to suggest that. I thought to myself, what a witness. Something so simple as a prayer before a game. The thing is though, does she realize who that could touch that is not a christian? That moment in the vehicle this morning made me realize how proud I am of Carlee.

It has been

It has been a few days since I have posted, so sorry. We had a really good time this past weekend. We want to thank Bob and Tara for sharing their house with us all to have a bbq and pool party. Carlee and Tanner had such a good time with the other kids. It was so nice to get and visit with all the relatives. It seems like we don't get together near enough!! It is hard with everyone's activities and then trying to find the right times for everyone. I did miss not getting to see Jimmy, but I am looking forward to hopefully seeing him around Christmas time. I did get to see some pictures and he looks like he is having a good time. I am still trying to figure out who had the most fun in the pool though - Bob or the kids. I love to watch Bob in the pool with the kids. The kids think it is awesome!! Saturday was just an awesome day.
Sunday the kids and I took out for Springfield to see a Springfield Cardinal game. Bert had it all set up that we would all go and see the game. Bert was under the weather on Sunday, so he didn't get to go with us. Carlee and Tanner still really wanted to go, so I loaded them up and we took off for Springfield. We left around 12:00 because the kids wanted to eat at Incredible Pizza. Tanner has to be one lucky duck when it comes to the games. I still can't figure out how he always wins the bonus prizes. He just looks at Carlee and I like it is a piece of cake. After Incredible Pizza the kids each bought their own Build a Bear with fair money that they had earned. I enjoyed watching them stuff their animals, and then pick out their clothing for them. By the time we did all of that it was time for the game. We headed over to the stadium and we ended up setting out by centerfield. Well some of you would think that these weren't the best seats, but all Tanner had talked about since watching the Cardinals on Thursday was Colby Rasmus. Colby is the centerfielder for the Springfield Cardinals, and Tanner kept telling me he is the best. We got to set right behind him. Oh my goodness - Tanner was in hog heaven. I was telling Brock how much Tanner liked him and Brock was saying that he will probably take Jim Edmonds spot when he retires. I thought well maybe Tanner does have good taste. HA!! Carlee was ready to move around the 4th inning so we moved over by the pitching dugout for the Cardinals, and the kids watched the pitchers warm up. Carlee and Tanner stood there in amazement. You could tell the kids really enjoyed watching the Cardinals!!!
Monday we had a day of relaxation. Carlee did have Volleyball practice at 6:00, but other than that it was a nice quiet day at home. Carlee got to go out to eat with some friends after volleyball practice. She is turning into the teenager quickly. It comes to fast. She is really opening up and enjoying being around all of her friends. I am having fun watching her turn in to a young lady.

Game time

Tanner got to go to a Springfield Cardinal game last night with Grandma and Grandpa Phipps. He called me in the third inning and was excited because he got to see a homerun, ate a hot dog and got to see the horses before the game. I think he had a really good time. They got home really late so last night I didn't get to see all the goodies he came home with. This morning he was so excited showing me everything he brought home. Uncle Brock fixed him right up. Tanner got some autographs while he was at the game too. Tanner was explaining to me that he really enjoyed watching the centerfielder. He said that he was really good. He really enjoyed himself.
Bert and I took Carlee to go and watch the Lamar High School Volleyball games. Carlee's 7th grade coach thought it would be good for the younger girls to watch the older girls. I think Carlee liked watching the girls and hopefully she learned a little by watching. It is amazing to me that she is in the 7th grade and she is old enough to be playing school sports. It is so cute for me to watch her set by all her friends and just have a good time hanging out. I wish the Lamar High School girls could have won their games, but I think the younger kids had fun watching them anyway. I think that Carlee is getting excited for her first game, even though she doesn't play until 9/10/07.
My kids are excited because this weekend they are getting to go to Aunt Tara's and my mom's family is all coming in for a BBQ. The kids are excited to see all of their extended family. They always have such a good time when we get together, it just seems that we don't get to do it enough!!!

Here are some pictures of the kids

I finally got to find time to get the pictures put on here. I just couldn't seem to get it done. The kids had such a great time at the fair. Tanner has really been spending a lot of time the past two days outside with Bert working out in the fields and with the cattle. Carlee has been working on homework most of the time. Bert is already getting the fever to go and look for more steers. I guess there are sales everywhere in Iowa and he would love to drive up there to look. I personally think he is crazy, but he is really wanting to go. I just laugh because Carlee thinks it would be a lot of fun. Tanner told Bert the only way it would be fun is if we found a hotel with a really nice pool. I thought to myself the only way I would think it was fun is if we found a really nice mall to shop at. HA!!

Hope you enjoy the pics!










Carlee and Tanner showing their small heifers Goofy and Tulip

Tanner showing "Sugars" for Carlee in the Champion Angus Drive

Carlee receiving her trophy for Reserve Grand Champion Heifer overall

You can't see Tanner, but he is showing Butters here.

Carlee standing waiting to go in to the sale ring with Moses

Do you ever wonder?

Do you ever wonder what goes on in a child's head? We have been dealing with issues with Tanner and football. I guess you really don't realize what is going on in their heads until it has all built up to much. Bert and I finally decided that Tanner needed to quit the football team. We hated for him to quit, but we could tell it wasn't pleasant for Tanner. Last night after I asked Tanner how he felt about quitting the team he looked at me with some really big issues concerning his safety. I just wonder how long his little mind thinks about different issues. What can you say to fix them? The only way to fix them is to pray about them and God will take care of it.

On Friday of the fair Tara had brought Koen and Payton down to the fair to watch Carlee and Tanner show. Payton loved looking at the animals. It was so curious to me though when Payton took me to a pile of cow manure. She kept looking at it and saying "yuck poop". I thought it was so cute. We left the area, and then Payton took me back to it. She looked at a little boy standing beside it, and said "yuck poop - clean it up". I just wondered what was going on in her mind because no one cleaned it up we just left it. I wondered if she thought we were all really gross because we were leaving manure laying around.

I sometimes would just love to be in the mind of a child to see how far they ponder on issues. I would love to fix there problems and not let them worry about different things. If only we could fix all of the kids problems it would be wonderful!

Sad but true

Well the fair is over, and the kids are done showing until March. Carlee is sad to see the season come to an end. Carlee and Tanner did very well showing this week. I was very proud of them. Carlee showed two heifers and then one steer. Carlee got 1st in her class with both heifers, and won Grand Champion Angus Heifer with her big heifer named Sugar. She received Reserve Grand Champion Heifer overall the heifer there with Sugar. Carlee was very excited about that!!! Carlee showed Moses her steer and got 2nd in her class, and then was placed 5th overall in the steer show. She seemed pleased with that. When she took him out to sale him she had him all dolled up with glitter and they shined together in the show ring. Tanner got to show 1 heifer, 1 steer, and a bucket calf. Tanner got 2nd in his class with his heifer (which was behind Carlee) . Carlee let him show Sugar in the Champion Angus drive, so he thought he was pretty big stuff. It was pretty funny. Tanner's steer was 3rd in his class and recieved 6th overall in the steer show. He was very happy, actually Bert and I decided he didn't care where he placed as long as he got some money. Eventually he will figure it out and want the placing instead of the money. It seemed that the fair was a success for the kids and they seemed to have fun riding the rides as well. I love to set and watch the kids at the fair in the livestock barn. There is such a bond there between all the kids. The boys would play football any chance they had while there wasn't anything going on in the show ring. Of course rolling around in the saw dust chips is so much fun to the boys. It is really fun for the mom that gets to wash it all out too. The girls just get to set around and visit. There is so much hard work with the livestock it is just so impressive getting to watch these children grow up, and know that they are going to be very hard workers. I am working on getting pictures downloaded, so you will soon get to be bored with looking at pictures with the kids showing their animals.

Have you ever really noticed?

As I have told you before Bert and I have been getting up around 5:15 to do chores. I usually go out as soon as I get up to get the feed ready while Bert gets his lunch put together. When I go out I am a chicken when it is dark, but I go out anyway. I had all of the feed ready and Bert came out and we started carrying out pans of feed to the animals. The breeze was wonderful and it was still so dark. I went out from the grain barn to the barn where we have a little heifer that we are feeding since we lost her mother. Well on my trip over there, still being dark with just a hint of light, I saw something scurry right in front of my foot and hide under the hay that was left from last night. I am assuming it was a mouse, they really freak me out. I didn't scream being to proud in front of Bert I guess. I just got to thinking of all the animals that God had created, how neat it was. We were out with Cows, Dog, Cats, Mouse, Birds, and all the insects that feed off of everthing. I just though how amazing it is that God created so many different creatures. Then around 6:10 the sun starts coming up. It is just so amazing after starting the chores and being pitch black and then turning to natural light. It just reminds you how lucky we are to have such an awesome God.
Carlee and Tanner had good first days of school. Carlee loves her volleyball coach, and said that they had a really good time. She was excited because she said she got most of her serves over. It is so nice to see her excited about something new. I am hoping Carlee will have a good year. I hope that she has a better experience with 7th grade than what I did. Bert took Tanner to pick up his Football gear up at Nevada last night and we get to start football practice tonight. I am not sure if he is as excited as Carlee is about volleyball though. He really wants to play, but he wasn't to sure about all the gear you have to wear.
Bert and I took the calves down to Bill and Barbara's last night to weigh the kids steers. Well Carlee's is weighing in at 1275 lbs. She is very excited because he has gained what he needed to for the fair. Tanner's weighed in at 1425 lbs. Tanner's steer will have to go on a little diet because they can't weigh over 1400 lbs. Tanner is a little worried, but Bert and I told him that he drank a bunch of water before we took them to weigh in and that makes a really big difference. I just think of my children not weighing over 115 pounds walking around with these animals and thinking oh my goodness are we crazy? The kids love it and that is all that matters though. The countdown is on we take the animals tomorrow up to the fair, and I think the kids are really getting excited.

Back to the grind

Carlee and Tanner had their last fun weekend before school started. Friday night the kids got to have some friends come over and they watched High School Musical 2. What an exciting time. I think the Carlee and her friends watched the movie twice Friday night. Tanner and his little buddies would go outside when the movie would get a little boring. We started the evening with a BBQ, and the kids got to witness how well Bert could fry zuchini. Oh my goodness. Bert decided to fry the zuchini outside, well before I could get the batter on the zuchini the fryer was in flames. Poor Bert was trying so hard to keep the smell outside. We had quite the fire, and that was the talk of the kids for a while. We have a nice burn spot in the grass from it. That will leave us some memories for a while. HA!! Saturday we were full of working with the show animals all day. Of course in between being outside we had to watch High School Musical 2 some more. Cracks me up!!! Sunday we worked with the cattle some more and then we went in to town to set up cattle panels for the County Fair that the kids will participate in on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.
Sunday evening Bert's parents took us out to eat for my birthday. My birthday always falls during the fair, so we got to go out to eat with them and then Bert's sisters family. We had a good time. Tanner and Conner love to set with each other and they entertained us with their paper horns and sang songs through them. I am sure that the resturant was very entertained with them also. Of course Carlee and Ciara are getting to old now to make a scene, but to listen to their conversations on boys and school is so fun. It makes you realize how much older they are getting. They are both turning in to quite the young ladies.
This morning Bert and I got up around 5:15 to get the six show animals fed before we had to start getting the kids ready for school. Carlee got up to help me get the animals put up in the barn and make sure they had a drink of water before they were tied up. Carlee ended up taking 4 bags with her to school. She said she felt like she was moving or going on a trip. She looked so cute this morning. Tanner was excited to start a new school. He was ready to go, and had his Springfield Cardinal Lunchbox ready for lunch. He is more excited that he gets to go to Aunt Sara's after school until Volleyball season is over more than anything else that involves school. I am so anxious to see how their days go.

Countdown.............

Well the countdowns have started in the our household. We have 6 days until we have to take our six animals to the county fair, 4 days until school starts, and less than 12 hours before High School Musical II comes on. I tell you we have our countdowns in line. Carlee and Tanner have been working early mornings and late nights on the steers and heifers getting ready for the fair. I think that they might be relieved to get a break from all of the work for a while. They will only get a short break though to start looking for show animals next year. School will get started on Monday, and will start volleyball practice right after school on Monday too. I think that the kids are ready to get back to school to see their friends. (I think that is the one and only reason Tanner is ready.) I don't know about anyone else, but my kids love High School Musical. We are having a little party with some of the kids friends tonight to watch the movie. Carlee even picked up some High School Musical plates and napkins. I am sure it will be worth the wait. We have recorded and watched every apperance that the High School Musical cast has been on to promote the movie. I think the kids are really excited. I think the one child that I have the most fun watching while watching the High School Musical movie is Laney, my niece. Even though Laney is only 23 months she will sing with every song. She will just turn around and grin from ear to ear while she is singing with the movie. It is so adorable, and it just brings a huge smile to your face.

Just getting started

I have decided to start writing as much as possible to keep family in touch with my children.

Carlee Phipps is 12 years old and is going to start 7th grade in Lamar Middle School. She is going to start playing volleyball this year, and she seems to be very excited about getting started. Carlee is also very active in 4-H with her cattle. Carlee goes to quite a few shows during the spring and summer. She enjoys showing steers and then she also shows Angus Cattle. This year she has a steer named Moses and then she has two heifers, they are named Sugars and Goofy. Carlee also enjoys photography and scrapbooking, she is active in 4-H with these activities. I am very proud of Carlee with all of her accomplishments and she is such a hard worker. Carlee loves to be around her family and loves to spend time with her cousins. She loves to babysit with her nieces and nephews. She did some babysitting this summer, and really had a good time. As you can tell she is an apple to my eye!!!

Tanner Phipps is 8 years old and is going to start 3rd grade at Lamar West Elementary. Tanner is starting his first year of tackle football this year. He will start practice on Tuesday, August 21st. He seems to be very excited about playing, I on the other hand may not be to excited after seeing that first tackle on him. I might have to be confined on the side lines. HA!! Tanner also enjoys playing baseball. He kept us very busy this summer traveling with his baseball team. He played a total of 45 games this summer. He had the time of his life, and loves it every minute. He could play baseball 24/7 if we would let him. Tanner is also involved in showing cattle. He is not as active as Carlee, and he doesn't enjoy the chores as much as Carlee. (You can ask Carlee about that) HA! Tanner has a steer named Butters that he has shown this summer. He has done a very good job of taking care of him, and Butters is a big teddy bear. Tanner has two Angus heifers also. They are named Daisy and Tink. As you can tell Tanner is the baby of the family, and he loves to socialize. We are in trouble with him!!

We are very excited to share our family with you and let you hear some of the fun things that our kids do. Of course sometimes we are very boring because it seems to be all we do is farm chores sometimes. We have a good time though doing them as a family. Tanner learned a long life lesson last night. The family was in a hurry and Bert had the kids out running water for the animals before we left last night to go to Snoop Night at the schools and then Tanner's baseball teams picnic. We had to leave right at 5:00 when I got home, so it was a little crazy I guess getting everything together. We got home around 8:30 after all of the functions, and Bert and the kids went outside first to start choring. I noticed when I walked out that it was a little wet by the water tank, but didn't think to much about it. I watching the cattle and Tanner said well I guess the water bill will be high this time. I looked at him funny I guess. He said that he had left the water on from 5:00 until we got home. I was very proud of Bert when I asked him while Tanner was standing there if this was true. Bert just looked at me and shook his head yes. Bert said Tanner it is just part of it, it just happens sometimes. Carlee also reassured Tanner that it was ok because it was a slow water hose and the water doesn't come out very fast on that one. I guess I thought it was so neat that Tanner was thinking of the water bill. I don't think I would have ever thought about the water bill at his age. When we went out this morning there were still water puddles from the water being left on for 3 1/2 hours, but the cattle will at least enjoy laying in them on the hot days.