All of us went to Pratt today.  Jaide had a checkup, we had lunch at mcdonalds (per the kids request) then we went to walmart.  It was nice that Clint got to go with us.  We only have 4 heifers left to calve and they are a few days away, so he was able to be gone for awhile today.

Oh sweet baby, please stop growing so fast!

I wish I had some insightful thoughts for the day, but really, I'm tired and I don't seem to have a lot of insight right now.  I'm not going to write that we had the perfect day and everyone acted wonderfully.  Don't get me wrong, it wasn't a horrible day, but we had a fair amount of sassing.  I firmly believe in honesty.  It irritates me when mothers act like their lives are perfect and their children are perfect, etc.  I would much rather admit that I'm not always the best mother and that my kids can be really irritating at times.  At the end of the day, I love my babies and would give my life for theirs.  The end.

Clint started a fire in the fire pit late morning and the kids had hot dogs at their picnic table for lunch.  I needed to be inside most of the time with Jaide since it was pretty cold and windy.  The kids loved it and I love that Clint does sweet things that make them happy.

Saige is my mini-me.  All evening she was carrying around her doll just like I was carrying Jaide.  She is always concerned when Jaide cries and loves to hold her.

Dad brought the boys home this afternoon.  The girls were excited to have their brothers home and they started bickering right away.  The boys were eager to show us their bird house and tell us about it.  I could tell they had a great time.
These are a few pictures Dad took yesterday and emailed to me...

The completed project

Yesterday morning all the kids and I went over to Coldwater.  Dad met us there and the boys went to Greensburg with him for a sleepover.  They have been asking to build bird houses, so Papa Bob is going to help them build some.  The girls and I came back home and we decided to go to Woodward to do some massive grocery shopping.  Sloan wanted to go to Papa Larry's to play instead of shop, but Saige wanted to come with us.  We drove down, spent about 1 hour and 15 mins in walmart and filled 2 carts, then drove back home.  Clint has to be here to check the heifers every 2-4 hours so we can't be gone long.  I was glad he was able to go because we had a lot of stuff to load and carry.

Today we stayed at home and I worked on some projects around the house.  The girls played so well all day.  Having 3 kids would be so easy.  We all went down to check the cows in OK this afternoon since it was nice out.

I've had this project in mind for quite awhile, but haven't had the time to work on it.  Over the last month, I've worked on it for a few minutes here and there and today I finally completed it with the help of my handsome beloved assistant.  I really wanted to do most of it on my own because I'm slightly independent like that, but it was nice to have an extra set of rugged hands to help install.  It may not look like much, but I like it.  I used an extra piece of oak that we had left from the trim and I cut, sanded and stained it.  The wire is 100 year old barbed wire from the ranch we live on.

I also busted out the sewing machine and made a few throw pillows.  Good grief I love that sweet baby sleeping on the couch.

Jaide rolled from her back to her stomach today.  It doesn't seem possible that she is old enough for that already.  She has the cutest little smile and giggle that I can't get enough of.

Today's pet peeve:
When someone is cooking or baking, it annoys me when they don't use a spatula to scrape every little goodie out of the bowl.  It may be because I'm a bit obsessive or maybe because I'm a tad frugal.  Either way, it seems like a waste.  Rant over.

It was 72 degrees today.  The kids were overcome with the warmth and decided to play outside in their underwear like they do in the summer.  They asked if I could get the sprinkler out and I told them it was still winter and Jett said it was too warm to still be winter.  They got muddy and had lots of fun.  I even had Jaide outside for quite a bit this afternoon.  I opened up all the windows in the house and got some fresh air in.  I love being able to have the windows open so I can hear the birds chirping, cows mooing and the kids playing outside.

I've gotten really behind, so I'll try and catch up from the last 5 days.

Thursday...

The kids colored while I made lunch.  Jaide was entertained (for awhile) watching them (and chewing on her fingers).

Dian Roetker came over and stayed inside and took care of Jaide so I could go out and play with the kids in the snow before it all melted.

Friday was valentines day.  Clint and I (and Jaide) went to the high school basketball game in Coldwater.  It was nice to put on decent clothes and makeup and get out.  The kids stayed the night at Clint's parents.  We picked them up on Saturday on our way back from checking our cows in Oklahoma.  On Saturday evening, Kirk and Gayla came out.  After we put the kids to bed, we played cards and had a great time.

The kids sang Happy Birthday to Kirk and gave him a present.

Yesterday, the kids and I went to Greensburg in the afternoon.  Tanner and Stacy and their families were also there, so it was nice to have everyone together.  Clint had to stay home since we still have heifers calving.

It was so beautiful out today.  The kids were in and out of the house most of the afternoon.  I love being able to have the inside doors open and let the light in.  The girls were getting a little cranky this afternoon, so Clint got them to take a nap, then he stayed in with Jaide and I went outside and helped the boys fly their kites.

Whew.  I know my job is to correct and discipline these tiny humans in love, but some days they wear me out.

Our morning started with a calf in the house.  This made the kids happy.  Thankfully, Clint got the calf warmed up and got it back out with its momma.

The kids were running around with their super hero shirts on while I was making supper.  I was cooking steak and I had the griddle turned up as high as it would go so it would sear the steak.  It was smoking quite a bit and started setting off the smoke alarm.  The kids know they are supposed to get out of the house when the smoke alarm goes off, unless I am cooking.  Earlier in the day they had torn up a box and colored on it, so they got those cardboard pieces to fan the smoke alarm so it would stop beeping.

Clint and I did something tonight that we haven't done in about 10 years.  We went to a movie.  Kirk and Gayla asked us if we wanted to go with them to 'Lone Survivor' in Coldwater.  Kaycee, Jessica and Bryce came out and took care of the kids and put them to bed.  I took Jaide with us.  I had to stand up with her for most of the movie, but it didn't bother me a bit.  She was content as long as I just bounced her.  It was nice to get off the farm for a bit.

I love my country and I love sports, but I have absolutely no interest in watching the Olympics.  The opening ceremonies for the winter games were last night and I didn't even consider turning it on.  I might consider turning it on to let the kids see if they are interested in watching it, but I don't think I'll spend any of my free time watching it.  I'd rather fold laundry.

Tonight when we were putting the kids to bed I laid Jaide beside Judd so he could tell her goodnight and this is what he tells her: "Baby, I'll always be here for you.  If anybody is ever mean to you, you just tell me and I'll take care of it.  I'll always be here for you."  I have no doubt he'll follow through on his promise.

Clint took this picture in the middle of the night last night.  Jaide always wiggles over and snuggles next to me.

The kids are starting to get cabin fever.  It has been so very cold the past week that the kids haven't been outside.  Today they put on fake mustaches and were entertained for a short time.

One of the kids favorite meals right now is waffles.  All four of the kids eat them faster than I can make them.  Tonight for supper we had waffles, scrambled eggs and sausage.  I love having breakfast for supper and so do the kids.

Bed time story...

Jaide is 3 months old today.

Saige was tickling her

It snowed almost all day.  We got around 8 inches.  The kids were certain they wanted to go out and play, so after lunch we got them all bundled up and Clint took them sledding for a little bit.

Jaide sat on the counter while I made supper (pork chops and hash browns).  She was happy most of the time.

I gave Jaide a bath with Saige and Sloan tonight.

Trying to get a good picture of all of them is not always easy.  I was trying to get everyone to look happy while Clint was taking pictures.

I used a power tool today (circular saw).  My day is complete.

I didn't post last night because I just didn't feel like it.  There was a lot of sassing yesterday and I didn't have much patience.  I probably wasn't the best parent yesterday, but I'm thankful God gave me the opportunity for a do-over today.  I can't say I did much better today, so hopefully He gives me a do-over again tomorrow.  Yes, I'm probably being too hard on myself.  I hugged them, spanked them, told them I loved them, yelled at them too much, cooked meals I know they like, encouraged them to learn, probably yelled at them too much and hugged them more.  I try to always remind myself that they are 2 and 4 and I can't treat them like they are older or expect them to act like they are older.  I want them to enjoy their childhood.  It will pass far too quickly.  When the kids are in the pickup with Clint they like to listen to his Willie Nelson tape.  In one of the songs, the lyrics are "I burned up my childhood days."  The kids have asked Clint what that means.  He tells them that it means he grew up too fast and didn't enjoy being young.  We tell them we want them to enjoy being young.  Most people would be overwhelmed with the amount of noise that is produced in our home, but I know that in a few short years I will long for the sound of little feet running all over the house or the boys wrestling on the kitchen floor or all of them making a train out of the dining room chairs or all of us playing the piano and singing songs together.  Today, I regret that I spent too much time on laundry and dishes and yelling and not enough time on hugging and correcting and encouraging.  Tomorrow is a new day.  For now, I will go in each of their rooms and kiss each of their heads and whisper "I love you".