Lena’s Home

This last February we adopted a two year old German Shepherd, named Lena, from Emotional Rescue in Hastings for Sam. She was found in the Badlands full of mange, sadness and lacking hair, amongst other issues I’m sure. 

After eight months of care, medication, love and a soft place to lay at Emotional Rescue, Lena came home to us. She fits in great with the family and tolerates Noah’s close snuggles. She loves attention and learns pretty quick.

Slowly but surely those ears are perking up, right where a German Shepherd ears are expected to be.

Duck ~ Duck ~ Chicks

Since Seth found two wild ducklings by the river, or flock has been steadily growing.

One duckling had a brief interaction with Belle that left Duck Duck all alone. Seth and Sam rushed me off to Tractor Supply to buy Duck Duck a friend. Unfortunately Tractor Supply didn’t have any ducklings so we left with the minimum purchase of four baby chicks and uneducated guesses of what to feed them. No food, only snacks, and no bedding. But we grabbed electrolytes to add to their water. Ha

Fast forward two weeks. Oh, I forgot to mention that somewhere in there, Seth finally caught Tractor Supply with baby ducklings. We now have three ducklings.  We picked up a free rabbit hutch. Set up a play-yard around it and built a ramp so they can be outside. 

Great right?!

Not so much. Belle is persistent and somehow pulled three of the four chicks out of the pen. Sam had taken the ramp out earlier so they had no way to safety. 

Seth heads straight to Tractor Supply and brings four more home. The next day, Seth and Sam bring home another four chicks.

We are now a farm of 9 chickens, 3 ducks, 4 dogs and one cat.

Going nowhere fast

What do you do on a hot day when you are bored in the pool? Be like Sam and paddle board. 

This girl cracks me up with her goofiness and carefree self. She’s all about finding her own fun. 

She’ll be going nowhere fast. 

Lucky Number Seven

My baby boy is seven! Look at that smile! He’s such a sweet loving boy.

Highlights to bring six

• Playing Mite Hockey
• Favorite position is goalie
• Learning to swim
• Losing his first tooth
• Flying to Florida
• Going to NASA
• Starting 1st Grade at Kennedy Elementary
• Experiencing Distance Learning and hating it. 
• South Dakota/Wyoming camping trip
• Ohio’s Cedar Point Amusements Park
• Jet boat to Put-in-Bay
• Waterfalls of Watkins Glen Upstate New York
• Bennington, Vermont
• Boston, Massachusetts Observation Deck and Cheers
• Orange County Choppers
• Punxsutawney Phil
• Amish Country
• Wisconsin Dells
• Broken foot from launching from a trampoline
• Driving dad’s farm tractor

His favorite things to do

• Watch Roblox videos on YouTube
• Play Farming Simulator on PlayStation
• Veg in front of YouTube
• Ride his cool new green glowing bike
• Play with foster pups
• Shoot BB guns with Dad

A Mother’s Hug

The kiddos seem to be doing well with Dad leaving. We talk about him a lot. Comparing my dinner skills to his. What the chicken would have tasted like if Dad made it. Where exactly he lays in bed. What he is doing.

Today feels no different than him being gone at his annual training. I’ve been giving out a lot more hugs to the kids. Trying my best to keep in mind that now isn’t the time to push. I need to hug them. They are dealing with something so much larger than they are used to. Figuring out what their new normal will be. Wondering when they get to hear their Daddy’s voice again. When they can hug him again. 

A hug is so therapeutic. We did a lot of that yesterday. Why stop?

We managed to keep our tears in check until Grandma went in for a hug. Her voice broke as she said goodbye in her son’s ear. With that, our eyes welled. I honestly cannot recall the last time I’ve ever seen them hug.

For now, I’ll hold them tight. Everyday. 

Deployment Day

It’s been a little over a year since Nick shared his possible deployment with us. 

It seemed so far away.

Today is the day. I don’t like today. I don’t think anyone does. 

It was difficult to say goodbye. Even more so after Grandma Linda said her tearful goodbye. 

May 2021 is forever away.

Seven

Today is the day! Our Adelynn June turns seven years old! 

What does this girl live for?

• Reading and getting 100% on her AR books. She’s the highest reader in her class and gets to test out in the hallway. (That must be a big deal). 
• Hockey! “I was born to play games!” She also helps the younger kids in the Learn to Skate program.
• Coloring and lots of it!
• Taylor Swift on her Amazon Alexa.
• Cleaning, unpacking, laundry, dishes, you name it and she wants to help.

For her birthday she got a heart shaped necklace that said “I love you more” from Grandma Loken. A new fancy coat, a hockey hat and Sam made her a blanket in her FACs class.