Happy Sixth Anniversary to us!

This isn't one of my all time favorite photos but it is recent and we had such a wonderful time, I decided to use it.

So much has happened in the last six years, it seems crazy to me that we have been married that long, and together for eight. These have been the best six years of my life and I am so grateful for our marriage, I couldn't be happier.

I was thinking of posting six things that I love about our marriage and the more I thought about it the more I thought, oh that would fit under the 'dad' category, or that would fit under 'what I love specifically about Chip' category. So I decided to do the biggest one that means the most to me.

Respect- For me I think this is a big one that can get lost in the shuffle. I feel in a way that since I am home now, doing the mom and wife thing, I EASILY could have lost a lot of respect in a way. SO NOT THE CASE in our marriage, and I am so thankful for that. I have taken on the job of cleaner, cooker, child care manager and many many more. NEVER has Chip ever said to me ONCE, ummmm.... I have no clean underwear, what's the deal? This house looks like a tornado went through it. What are we having for dinner? Never ever. And I am sooo grateful for that. Those are my jobs. But sometimes if things away from me, he'll just throw in a load of laundry, or clean up a little. No questions asked, no snide comments. And I appreciate that so much. We are equal partners just as it should be. I hope we are as happy after forty six years as we are at six.

Farming

Today we went to a picnic in Delhi New York. It was put on by the Watershed Agricultural Council. It was a lot of fun and an enlightening experience for me. First I will explain why we went. We live near reservoirs that supply New York City with their water. A few years back the Watershed Council contacted our farm and wanted to make some improvements on the water drainage. They have done work on our farm and we have been in contact with them ever since. They strive to make farms better for the environment and they encourage people to buy local farm fresh products.

I expected this picnic to be something similar to the one we go to with some insurance agency where we just eat our BBQ dinner and go on our way. So came equipped with toys, since it was over an hour ride to get there, and no camera thinking why would I need one. Boy was I wrong. First when we got there, they had a raffle where you put your tickets in different items that you hoped to win. They had all different kids toys, farm fresh eggs, maple syrup, and a chainsaw that my husband was not very happy I didn't put one ticket in for. That's not really what was on my mind. :) They had this beautiful wooden children's picnic table that I had my heart set on, so I put most of the tickets in there, and a bunch in other things too. We didn't win the table, but we did win a John Deere kids ride on ATV which the boys are riding on now as we speak. They were excited.

It was at the Delhi Agricultural Museum so we got to go in there, look around at things, make some crafts, it was very cute. There was a fire truck too which a man was nice enough to let Adam (and me because I wanted to look around, I don't think I have ever been in one) pretend to drive. I was so wishing I had my camera at this point. They had little baby pools of corn that the kids played in and they had games for them too. All in all , a really nice day and I hope we go again next year.

Now on to the enlightening part. I often forget and take for granted what a huge part agriculture plays in our lives. When I go to different parts of the state, especially upstate, I see these huge working farms. And when I went on this buypurecatskills website, I see all these farms with websites and everything. When we went up there, we passed SUNY Delhi and there was a kid at the picnic that had a SUNY Cobleskill sweatshirt on with a cow on the front and the back it said 'aggies'. Also, when we go to FFA dinners (Future Farmers of America) and see and hear all the things that they are doing, it makes me see the bigger picture. Oh, and in that museum, there was this picture of a farmer in the barn with a mother cow lying down with the baby cow coming out of her. The farmer had a rope around the baby cow's legs and was pulling her out. Behind the farmer, there were two little boys, about Adam's age with rubber boots on and work overalls, just like Adam, watching the whole thing. I bet my husband could have been in a picture like that and Adam some day too.

I often don't think of farming as an 'industry' or a 'field' but days like today prove me wrong. I wonder if Adam or Van will be 'Aggies' one day. I said to Chip, I never thought you would have to go to college to farm. But he was like, there is so much more to it. If you work for a big company like Crowley milk or something, you would want someone with a degree in Ag Marketing or something to work for them. This is all very interesting to me. I often think of farming as just going out and cleaning the barns or collecting the eggs. But now I am reminded that there is so much more to it. I may explore some options for our farm... but I am so happy to be part of it.

Toyin' around on a Sunday afternoon

What faces this boy makes!!

When it's beautiful out (and often when it's not) we're outside. And my boys are definitely boys. They love anything that runs or has a motor. Adam enjoys this pedal tractor. This is a steel tractor and it is VERY heavy. He pedals it around like mad and even knows when he is off of it, what direction to turn the wheel when he wants to push it backwards. And Van isn't far behind him. He loves to sit on the tractors and fourwheelers and pretends to drive along. I love watching them play and 'drive' together.

Grandpa's 90th birthday

On the top row, left to right- my brother Joe, my uncle Andy, my grandpa, my aunt Elaine,

next row- my grandma, my dad, my aunt Janice, my mom standing.

sitting on bottom row- me, my cousin Stefani, her son Jay, Adam, Van

May 2, 2008 was my grandfather's 90th birthday. He was born in 1918. Pretty incredible huh? There is NOTHING he doesn't remember, is as healthy as a horse, gets around just fine, and is just hard of hearing. I also never have seen him not in overalls. We had a memorable day together and I am very blessed and proud to still have my grandfather. Sorry for the two pictures, I wanted to make the one bigger, but then couldn't seem to get the other one out!

A lazy Saturday

Here is Adam helping me make some oatmeal cookies. He had fun measuring and turning the mixer on and off. You can see he got a little carried away with all of the flour that is under the mixer! We had fun though and he liked bringing in some cookies to Daddy on a little plate!

A few of my favorite things

I decided to blog today about a few of my favorite products from a mom's point of view. I think it will be interesting to read a few years down the road because I wonder what some of my mom's favorites would have been when we were growing up. I think the things I have picked are relatively new, at least I don't think we had them when I was growing up. They are in no particular order, just what came up first when I posted the pictures.

The first is 'WASHABLE' paints and markers. I personally love anything by Crayola. I think the quality of their products is very high. But I love the fact that they make paints and markers that are washable. They truly are and I have never had a problem with them. When we go to our library hour, the kids use those permanent markers that we used as kids that smell? Adam always has some on his nose from smelling them and his hands as well. I always cringe because I like to put something nice on him when he goes, but so far so good, nothing has made it onto the clothes.

This isn't the exact product I have but I have the older version. Before Adam was born, I registered for one like this but didn't get it, no big deal. But when Van came along, I wanted to get one. I just happened to see one in a consignment store for 5 dollars and thought, hey I was going to get one anyway, I hope it works. I brought it home, hooked it up and it is perfect. I even contacted Fisher Price and told them what model I had and they sent me out an owners manual, which was a good thing because I couldn't figure out how to get it on the crib.

Van knows when we put him in his crib and we turn that on, it's nap time or it's time for bed. I turn it on, leave the room and he is asleep. It is the best five bucks I have ever spent. And in the morning, he stands up and turns it on, we think it's a riot.

When I was doing a leave position at school last year and Chip had the boys for a few days while my mother in law was away, he discovered this song on Sesame Street that he really liked. He found it online and it was by Dan Zanes. He ordered the CD online. Since then, we have discovered that he has a five minute dance party or something on Playhouse Disney. And he is this really famous kids singer. We just love him and the kids do too. What I love about him, is that the songs aren't annoying. If you are familiar with kids Cd's and performers, a lot can be really obnoxious and high sing songy voices. This is actually fun to listen to.

These are Children's Place jeans that have the 'cinchers' in them as I would say. Inside they have buttons and this elastic strip that you can cinch your kids pants if they are too big in the waist. Having tall and skinny boys, this is the best thing ever invented!! And most stores carry this type of pant. I just got some jean shorts for Van at Target for like 7 bucks I think. But Children's Place jeans are always 2 for 22 and I love that price as well.

These are Robeez shoes. My sister in law bought a pair for Adam for Christmas when he was about 10 months old. Sort of piggy backing on the last post a little, I have read, and our doctor said, no shoes until they are walking. So both of the boys didn't wear shoes until they were walking and they only wore them outside. But these are the best thing ever! My kids had a tendency to kick their socks, slippers or those soft baby shoes off. But these babies don't come off. Adam wore out his first pair and we got a pair for Van this year too. You can throw them in the wash and they come in lots of colors and designs. I think they are a little pricey, about 28 bucks a pair. I think that's a lot for a pair of shoes a baby wears a few months. But there are knock off brands. I don't know if they stay on as well though.

And there you have it, a few of my favorite things.