The Farm Report
  • A Sunday like I remember

    A Sunday like I remember

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    The funny thing about parenthood is when you recall your "childhood", you have no memories of the first part. You know, the baby days.

    Of course I have some early memories, but I can really only recall solid history from about kindergarten on. So when I became a parent, weekends felt so unfamiliar. One day rolled into the next, and it was an endless stretch of diapers, feedings, and trying to squeeze in errands and sleep. It didn't feel restful at all.

    But recently I've begun to feel some familiarity. I'm beginning to recognize some signs of "weekend" as it exists in my head.

    Today Neko and Shep were on the patio. They were digging and mucking about. There was sand and shovels and water. And then suddenly it was a full-blown bakery of mud pies and cakes, and little feet darting into the kitchen to collect pans and muffins tins.

    I swear they were out there for hours. Tom and I puttered around the house, cleaning and checking a few things off our lists. Entertaining Ellery, who's not quite old enough to be fully engaged.

    If things keep rolling along like this, I might even find myself snoozing on the couch one of these days. I can't even begin to describe how delicious that sounds.


  • Just your average Saturday

    Just your average Saturday

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    You know, where Shep spends time brushing his non-existent hair (out of frame) and Ellery walks around wearing my undergarments.



  • Shep turns four

    Shep turns four

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    Shep, today you turn four. Which, I have to confess, is a little jarring for me. With Neko out there leading the pack, I'm used to her being the older one, and you are my three-year-old, toddling along behind. But now? You're officially in Kid territory.

    This is a little bittersweet for me. You are my cuddler. You like nothing more than to crawl into my lap, give me double (or triple!) kisses, and hug for what seems like days. As each birthday clicks by, I know these days are numbered. But for the moment, you are the perfect lap and hug size, and I plan to stock up for the inevitable famine.

    When we thought about what to get you for your birthday, it made us chuckle a bit. Things you love best? Your enormous stock pot. Your collection of dogs. Model Magic, and creating the largest ball of it you can fathom. Anything magnetic. A wooden coin. You had a meltdown the other day at my mom's house because you lost the button you had been carrying around all day—a very ordinary, grey button. We tried to ply you with another button, but to no avail. You wanted YOUR button.

    You are at that magic age where any gift would thrill you. Every package you opened elicited a squeal of glee. I love this age, the time before you're disappointed by what the stack of presents didn't hold. You were thrilled with your cake. Your breakfast. Your day.

    When people would call to wish you well, you got on the phone and screamed, "Happy birthday!" as if it's all of our birthdays, and we can't help but celebrate right along with you.

    And this is your gift. You adore this life you live, and you scoop us all up for the ride.

    I'm honored to ride shotgun as long you offer me the seat.

    Happy birthday, little man.


  • Shep’s birthday cake

    Shep’s birthday cake

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    This is Shep's birthday cake. Now, you're probably thinking, "Hmmm. This isn't quite up to the standards we've seen in the past. What going on? Are you exhausted from birthday season? Do you not love Shep as much?"

    There's a good reason for this.

    Each year we ask the kids what they would like their birthday cake to be. Neko happened to be standing nearby when Tom asked this of Shep, so Neko chimed in, ultimately convincing him that a "baby animals" theme would be ideal. (Which, to be fair, is a pretty perfect theme for him, since he does love baby animals.) And, having convinced him of an acceptable topic, she proceeded to sketch up what the cake should look like.

    The sketch:

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    I took a few creative liberties (I eliminated that whole column on the left since Playmobil doesn't make plesiosaurs), but Neko seemed to be okay with it.  "That's perfect!" she exclaimed when she saw it.

    And Shep? After all, it is his birthday, right? He is still in that stage of life where he loves his sister more than anything, and if she loves it, he loves it, too. He took one look, and gasped, "It's BEAUTIFUL!"

    The bonus? I actually went to bed on time.



  • The big reveal

    The big reveal

    In ten days we went from this:

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    to this:

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    We are completely exhausted and our house is thrashed, but it was totally worth it. There were squeals of delight from the older girls as they walked in the door, and when I dropped off Neko, there were ten kids piled on the couch.

    There are still some fine details to be addressed—artwork, a new trash can, and a small cabinet hung. But all in all, I think I declare it a success.

    Thank you to all the helpers and babysitters—we couldn't have done it without you!


  • Family

    Family

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    My uncle Keith and aunt Becky blew into town this week. We didn’t get to see anywhere near enough of them due to the remodel, but I'm hoping they'll return soon so we can make up the time.


  • One of those moments

    One of those moments

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    It’s official—Shep gave me his cold.

    After quiet time, I realized I just couldn’t do it. I couldn’t be a good mom. I couldn’t do anything except sit on the couch. And I told the kids they would just have to orbit around me.

    For the most part, they did. At one point, Neko came over and asked me to open a fizzy water. This was suspicious, and I asked what she was up to. She smiled a little sheepishly and said, "I'm just doing something for you."

    A few minutes later, she appeared around the corner with this tray. She assembled a snack to make me feel better. She poured the drink, cut the tops off the strawberries, and carefully laid it out. And I almost cried.

    We're starting to turn the corner, from the age where the world revolves around you to beginning to notice other people have needs, too. Hallelujah.


  • Shades of myself

    Shades of myself

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    Sometimes I see things out of the corner of my eye and it looks like something I've done, but then I realize it's not. Today I rounded the corner and spied this arrangement.

    "I made this cake!" Neko announced.

    And then we sat down to eat cake, carefully divided by color. I adore this kid.