Experiencing a New Normal

After stopping at my Grandpa's, since we weren't too far from Des Moines, Jon decided to take us shopping.  We went to Jordan Creek Mall - but of course I had my usual luck - NONE!  So we decided to head home.  We thought it would be fun to have a hot dog roast with the kids in the new fire pit.  This is how it went down:   Jon told the boys to break up these sticks into smaller sticks.     Then he added a seed sack to the bottom of the pit.   Then we added our little sticks and paper to start it.     When nothing else works - get the diesel fuel!     Because of all the rain our fire pit had water in it.  We tried our best to get a fire going but had no such luck.  We had to resort to the grill.  Not quite as fun as cooking your own hotdog over the fire, but it sure did taste good!   We also played  h-o-r-s-e and a little one-on-one basketball.  Over all we had a nice Memorial Day just hanging out spending time together as a family. 

Well, there are a couple of reasons I haven't blogged in awhile.  One, I've been sick.  And two, it has been crazy busy around here.  School is now over!!  I'm looking forward to having the boys home, spending time together and "making memories."  We were almost done with planting before all the rain happened.  And we are working on gutting the basement.  Our basement walls need to be fixed and in order to do that we have to gut the whole entire basement.  So we have been working on going through things, packing them up and getting them out of the basement.  So since it has been raining we've got Jon around to start working on that.  It's amazing the things you find and how different a room can look when you take out some carpet and tear up some walls and ceilings!  Here are a couple pictures of some of the progress we've made so far.    The boys REALLY enjoyed this part!! I must admit I did too!       No carpet, or ceiling, or paneli

While we were traveling to cemeteries on Monday we ran into some flooding.  Mostly when we were around Union Mills.  We drove past the cemetery to the bridge - the North Skunk and found the following:         Well on the west side of this river is my Dad and Uncle Joe's field and pasture.  So we drove around the long way because the road that normally leads you to this field looked like this:       We finally got around to the other side to see the highest waters I've ever seen (in my lifetime) in this field.  It has flooded before, but never this high.  Thankfully my Dad, Uncles and cousin were able to move all the cows and calves before the water got too high.  My Dad has told the two people that live by there that their property value has just increased since now they have lake side property next to Lake Ferguson!  Way to be optimistic Dad!!  Here are some pictures of "Lake Ferguson."       This is the entrance to the pasture with th

Jon and I had talked about taking the boys around to the different cemeteries where most of our relatives are buried.  We both remember going around with our parents doing the same thing and thought it would be a good idea to take the boys.  I know that they had been to most of the places, but also know that they had never been up to where my grandparents are buried.  I always liked doing this as a kid - it made me ask questions about those people that I never knew - questions I may never would have asked had we never been taken there.  I was hoping this would help our kids to ask those questions to learn more about their great grandparents.  We started off at Union Mills Cemetery.  Here we were able to "visit" TJ, Uncle Todd and many Ferguson relatives.  It was raining - so we didn't stay long.  Next was Forest Cemetery in Oskaloosa.  While there we saw Grandpa Boender, Aunt Delores and some other non relatives.  We grabbed a bite to eat and headed onto Leighton Cemetery

This morning started off a little better than usual mornings - all in the sense that I woke up before the kids and was able to shower before it was time to wake them up!  I got them all up, showered, fed and off to school and then it all went downhill from there.  I should rewind just a little bit.  Last night our small group went to the Serenity House (where TJ was for six weeks) to help do a service project.  We swept and power washed the decks, cleaned patio furniture, planted pots and washed screens.  I so desperately wanted to go and help.  The Serenity House had done so much for our family and I really wanted to give back - I just knew it was going to be hard.  It wasn't like this was the first time we had gone back there - I just had never gotten past the front desk when we have visited.  I wasn't sure beforehand all what we were going to do and where we might end up - it made me a little nervous.  I was thankful it had rained the day before so Jon was able to come.  Wel

So, Sunday when we were over at my parent's house, Charlie found a baby kitty.  That's not a rare thing to find, however it was odd that he could catch it and carry it around with him.  Of course he asked if he could keep it - I was quick to answer "I don't think so, it looks pretty little and it might need it's mommy."  Well, he kept carrying the thing wherever we went.  Both my Mom and Dad were quick to tell him he could take it home - you see I gave them one of our puppies, so they were more than ready to pass along a kitty to us!  I should rewind here just a bit - I'm not the biggest cat lover.  First off, I'm allergic to them.  Second, they can be so annoying - walking right under your feet at the most inappropriate times.  Plus I really didn't want this kitty - I knew it was going to require some extra doing on my part.  We tried feeding it in a little saucer while we were over there - which she didn't have figured out.  Well, just before

In the summer of 2011 my Uncle Steve had a cow that had twins.  We were asked if we wanted a bottle calf - to which we answered YES!  We thought the boys were old enough to help take care of her.  So we cleaned up the cattle shed and made room for our new calf.  Of course we had to decide on a name - Hawkeye!  I guess the boys must have decided it was TJ's calf because he was the one that basically took care of her!  He did a pretty good job.  In fact for his 10th birthday he asked for a rope halter, scotch comb and pitch fork.  I do believe he thought about making her a 4-H project for the next year.  However, TJ got sick and Hawkeye quickly became everyone else's project.  We couldn't bear the thought of getting rid of her, so last summer we turned her out to pasture with my Dad's (Grandpa and uncles) cows and bull.  We made sure to put a green ear tag in her with her name on it!  This is not quite how Ferguson Angus do it - but we wanted to make sure we would know wh

Will has always struggled with running, jumping and most things that require the use of his legs.  We have taken him to a couple of orthopedic doctors and the only thing they can tell us is that he is extremely flat footed.  Yes this is true, but I know of athletes who are flat footed who can run and do other physical things very well.  The summer before he started kindergarten we were able to get him some inserts made that he wears in his shoes.  This has helped out, but he's still not where I think he should be.  While he was having his pre-op physical for his eye surgery our doctor did an exam and she also noticed muscle weakness in his arms as well.  With all of these concerns we decided to look into it a little further - an appointment to Iowa City to a pediatric physical therapist was scheduled. This appointment was scheduled for yesterday (May 10).  The PT who examined Will was such a nice lady - she had such a sweet spirit - I instantly liked her (as I believe Will did too)

Thirteen years ago Jon and I "bought the farm" (where we live).  In the time we've lived here, we haven't done a lot to the outside.  Oh maybe a little landscaping here and there, but nothing to the outside buildings.  We decided it was time to start doing a few things to make the place look a little nicer!  So Jon ordered some new tin for the roofs of a couple of buildings (the shop and the cattle shed).  We had a gentleman from Tennessee stop buy asking if he could paint our bins.  We agreed to let him do that and the roof of the old hog shed.  We plan to tear down the two barns (hopefully) this summer.  So, slowly but surely the place is changing.  Next up is the house - we will be doing some major changes (inside and out) to that soon!  As for now check out some before and after pictures of what we've done so far to the outside buildings.  I have a before picture of the shop - but we haven't done anything to it yet - so I'll post those pictures later o

Monday evening I was dishing out the boys supper when the doorbell rang.  Of course the boys all hollered "come in."  Jon was outside and I half thought maybe it was him.  Then I realized someone had actually drove in the driveway and there really was someone at the door.  I quickly ran to the door to see who it was.  It was a lady from Nick's (in Pella) with this lovely bouquet of flowers.    I thanked her and she left.  I opened the card to see who they were from.  The card said, "Tami, TJ has not been forgotten. You are in the prayers of friends,"  but wasn't signed.  It was such a thoughtful thing for someone to do.  SO, whoever sent them, "THANK YOU!"  And if you would like to reveal to me who you are - I'd love that too!  I must confess it's driving me crazy trying to figure out who sent them!!

Even though our families all live within a twenty mile radius it seems as if we still don't get to see each other as much as we'd like.  So this past Friday we had the privilege of having the DeJong cousins over - not only just to play during the day, but overnight as well.  The boys each partnered up with another cousin and had a fun time of playing.  Unfortunately the weather wasn't the greatest to go outside, but they made do playing race cars, trains, farm, boxing (and UFC - thanks to the movie Here Comes the Boom - which I would highly recommend) and other various things.  Since there are four boy cousins and now only three boys in my house - I joined in on some of the fun.  I enjoyed playing trains with Nathan (he is the youngest - 2yrs).  It was like playing Thomas all over again with TJ - I loved it and didn't realized how much I missed that.  We picked up a couple of pizzas and had movie night.  Once the movie was over we set up the living room for a big slumbe

Charlie's transitional kindergarten class put on a little play called "Who Lost A Shoe."  We were invited to join them (in their classroom) for a great performance, popcorn and punch!  When we arrived we were greeted by Charlie and a couple other classmates who told us to take a seat anywhere and then they gave us our "snack."  Mrs. Jordan (Charlie's teacher) had them introduce themselves and the part they would be playing.  They all had little masks to hold in front of their faces and all but one kid played a different kind of animal.  It started off with an owl finding a shoe - wondering who lost a shoe.  A fish (Charlie), frog, duck, bee, cow and horse were all asked if it was their shoe - to which they all had a different response as to why it couldn't be their shoe. Charlie's line was, "swish, not me, not me.  I don't have feet as you can see!"    Finally the last one was a boy who claimed the shoe.  It was pretty cute!  Here are a