HARVEST 2014.

started off bad, bad, bad. ended up good, good, good.

 

it was really, really sad without mike. like, a big crappy reminder of his death. as if we could forget, but man this really shoved it back in our faces.

 

 

and then the combine broke down and the semi got stuck and dave was getting really frustrated and i almost broke the tractor. it was so awesome. but we had this great, mature moment where we gave each other lots of grace, accepted apologies and moved on.

 

 

 

it took eight hours to get one load of corn. it was a long day.

 

 

 

but then (!) yesterday went without a hitch. so that's good. and they are in the fields now, so please everyone say earnest prayers that nothing breaks down or gets stuck. please and thank you. your prayers mean so much, you have no idea.

 

 

harvest is always my favorite time of year, and definitely henry's. his dedication to the combine is second to none, and my dedication to his dedication is very...dedicated. case in point: it was hot, hot, hot yesterday and the ac is out in the combine. it felt like the pits of hell had opened and were fanning the flames in our direction. i don't know how chad sat in that inferno all day long. IT WAS HOT.

 

 

but henry was happy to sit in the heat, occasionally saying, "uncle chad! corn!" and pointing.

 

 

i am grateful for this harvest time. it brings us all together. it's hard to miss mike, but it's bearable when we are together.

 

 

 

 

WELL, OKAY.

*all done with potty training! i mean, for now. in other words, we quit. at the end of day 2. it was just stressing HIM out and he just wasn't ready. let's not traumatize the poor kid, okay? and yes, he will be three soon and you can suck it if you think that bothers me. the kid is his own person. it will happen when he's ready. in henry's words "ALL DONE." (for now).

 

*we had a fabulous weekend. went to st. louis and stayed with papapa and gma bev. we hit up the zoo and grant's farm and just had a fabulous time. henry went 100% nap-free yesterday and we survived! he didn't even melt down or anything...we just put him to bed a little earlier. EASY.

 

*i don't have much, but will post more tomorrow. i'm really tired.

 

i leave you with a picture of henry playing in a puddle last night. pictures of the zoo/grant's farm tomorrow.

 

 

POTTY TRAINING: DAY TWO

not good.

 

but not as bad. he sprinkled in the potty first thing in the morning. and by sprinkled, i mean like three drops. and then he got another raisin, so he allowed another two drops and then ONE MORE DROP for one more raisin. he must have all sorts of control.

 

and here's the thing: his diaper was DRY from the night. so he had lots of pee to let loose, but stubbornly would NOT DO IT. instead, he let loose in the pullup later on. fabulous.

 

but hey! we have like a 1% success for day #2. and day #3 has started in the same manner, except i upgraded from raisins to smarties - but still...just drops, no streams.

 

***

 

we are going to the zoo this weekend. that should be interesting.

POTTY TRAINING: DAY ONE.

NOT GOOD.

 

we're talking zero % success rate, here. sort of traumatizing for both of us.

 

the morning was terrible, so after naps we resorted to pullups and a timer set for every 30 minutes. and that was better.

 

still accidents in the pullups. still nothing happening every 30 minutes, but it was a start.

 

 

 

stay tuned for day #2.

WOULD YOU RATHER...?

some sample questions taken from a blog (joannagoddard.blogspot.com) this morning:

Would you rather be lost in a desert or at sea? desert
Would your rather make more money or get more vacation time? vacation time
Would you rather meet your ancestors or your great-grandchildren? great-grandchildren
Would you rather be able to eat anything you wanted forever or get rid of all your fears? FOOD
Would you rather take a vacation to a city or the beach? beach. maybe.
Would you rather be an amazing cook or an amazing dancer? cook.
Would you rather camp or stay in a hotel? hotel. although i wish i was the type of person who would rather camp. but i'm not.
Would you rather always be a little too hot or a little too cold? cold? hmm.
i love stuff like this :)

*****

we're going to start pottytraining henry on monday. i'm nervous, but hoping he will catch on quick. he is so smart, but still so sloooow in some areas. i'm not even sure he can pull his own pants down?! we'll find out.