The Farm Report

  • The very mixed-up birthday presents

    The very mixed-up birthday presents

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    Every time someone puts these glasses on, I just can’t stop laughing. Shep parades around the house with them on, and I can’t decide if he’s a robot or some sort of bug.

    I would love to thank whoever gave us these glasses for Neko and Shep’s joint birthday, but I can’t. Some people brought a special present just for Neko and Shep, and since I was busy with the party, Neko whisked them off to her room where she opened everything in one big pile, and I have no idea who gave us what. And then some people gave us cards and those got thrown in the pile and…ARGH.

    Anyway, it’s all just a very big mess and I’d like to say thank you to everyone who gave them something (even though it was totally not necessary!). Miss Manners is rolling over in her grave somewhere.

  • Joint birthday party

    Joint birthday party

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    Thanks to everyone for coming together under one very crowded roof on a rainy spring day!

    Extra big shout-outs to Barb, Diane, Janet, and Renita who slaved in the kitchen and beyond and Chris who took all these fabulous photos.

    I’m sure there are others I forgot to thank, but I’m too exhausted to think anymore. So thanks to those people, too.

  • Charlie and Lola “Where’s Sizzles?” cake

    Charlie and Lola “Where’s Sizzles?” cake

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    Phew! It doesn’t look very big in the picture, but it’s made up of FOUR normal size cakes, making it a whopping 36 x 12 inches. When I realized we had over 70 people coming to the party, a quick Google search confirmed that my original plan would serve only 25.

    The cake is based on Neko and Shep’s favorite Charlie and Lola book, We Honestly Can Look After Your Dog, where Lola and Lotta lose Marv’s dog Sizzles. All in all, it turned out pretty well.

    Those brown things? Those are Sizzles’ footprints, but they turned out looking a bit more like poop. I would have scraped them off and redone them, but omigosh, I’m already beyond exhausted.

  • Flowers and dandelions

    Flowers and dandelions

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    When you have your first child, you carefully plan your day. You expose them to new things and fresh, enriching experiences.

    When you have your second child, you’re lucky if everyone makes it out the door with two shoes and a moderately well-balanced breakfast.

    When you have a third child, well, let’s not even go there because I don’t want to scare Kate N. too much. But I might refer you back to that post where we went to IKEA and Neko had no shoes.

    Anyway, Neko went to school today and Shep and I had no real plans. The sun was shining, and with the birthday party coming up this weekend, I thought we could use some flowers for the porch. I scooped up Shep and Ellery, and we headed out.

    When we got there, Shep took over. He carefully looked at all the plants and helped me carry them to the cart. When we got home, he diligently carried them to their spots, even though though were so big he nearly toppled back down the steps.

    When we were done, we put Ellery down for a nap. And then Shep stayed outside and just PLAYED. It was one of those deja vu moments where I remember spending countless summer hours outside picking dandelions and running through grass and finding things to hop on. I swept the porch and took out trash, and both of us were utterly content.

    I do miss Neko when she’s off at school, but I also relish these moments when Shep gets a chance to climb behind the wheel and drive the day.

  • Quietly reading a book

    Quietly reading a book

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    I know these are terrible photos in terms of quality, but have you seen the air they’re getting there? Currently warming up the car for our trip to the ER…

  • My mom took us to the zoo and all she brought back were these two crappy photos

    My mom took us to the zoo and all she brought back were these two crappy photos

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    Important to note, however, that Neko wore her bat wings the WHOLE DAY.

  • I love rock and roll

    I love rock and roll

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    When you become a parent, you realize that things were not exactly as you had pictured them. You have this idealized image of things you will do with your kids, and it’s this amazing thing and you’re well-rested and happy and fulfilled. But then you’re in the trenches, and you realize it’s not quite what you imagined it would be.

    I hadn’t realized that it would be so much work. It’s a whole lot of make a meal, serve a meal, clean up a meal, fold laundry, clean toys, make a meal, serve a meal…you get the picture. And the poop? Good grief, I had no idea I would come in contact with SO MUCH POOP.

    Anyway, this morning I was hiding in the bedroom paying the bills while Tom watched the kids in the living room. All of a sudden I started hearing music that was definitely not in the kid’s genre. And screams of delight. And loud thumps and bangs. After a while I got so curious that I wandered out to find Joan Jett blaring out of the record player and Tom and the kids having a rock-n-roll dance party complete with vinyl, guitars, and explosive jumps off the mini trampoline.

    I think Tom was on the verge of tears. When he imagined what it would be like to have kids, this is EXACTLY what he had pictured, right down to the little guitar hanging around Shep’s neck.

    So maybe it is possible that parenting is kinda what we thought it would be. Except that part about being well rested. I’m not sure that’s ever going to happen.

  • The shipping charges were outrageous

    The shipping charges were outrageous

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  • Shep’s room gets some Swedish love

    Shep’s room gets some Swedish love

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    Poor Shep has been living in a shell of a room since we booted him out of his old room so we could move Ellery in. Even though he hasn’t slept in his crib since July, we haven’t moved it out yet since it would leave his room looking sad and barren. And since he’s not really a “stuff” kid, there aren’t an awful lot of things in there.

    But today Tom announced it was time. There were books on the floor and the crib was becoming a repository for junk. So we loaded everyone up and headed to IKEA.

    For the first time, we dropped the kids in Smäland. The 30 minute limit slipped by incredibly fast, but it was pretty luxurious to hold an actual conversation when contemplating a furniture purchase. We bought this small shelf, which is perfect for holding Shep’s things with room to grow. Plus, it replaced the crib, which we stealthily swept off to the basement.

    Next on the agenda for Shep’s room: wall decor. On our current schedule, that should happen somewhere in late 2010.

  • Knuffle Bunny

    Knuffle Bunny

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    As illustrated by Neko.