Corn Maze

Saturday was a little daring for this newly self-proclaimed hermit.  We ventured out as a family and although our plans changed a dozen times, I truly don't remember a better day.  It started as our heater went out late Friday night so we froze through the night until I finally woke Shem to say, "alright, now the baby's hands are cold."  He got up around five as I was up feeding baby and never got back to sleep.  The house warmed up though I never heard the heater kick on and I swore my hubby was a miracle worker.  However, when I wandered upstairs I looked in horror at the open oven door (not a gas stove) on full heat and a huge pot of boiling water on the stovetop.  I guess drastic times call for....hillbilly moves??  Hey, it worked for the most part.
Doesn't sound like a perfect day, does it?  Well, after all that I was determined to meet some friends at a nearby pumpkin patch and corn maze but thought I should call my sis to see if they wanted to join.  After a completely stressful morning and giving up on the heater, Shem decided to leave it all and come with us to first go to my sisters house then to the patch.  We took longer than anticipated visiting (and for me, working up the nerve to be in public) but made it an hour or two after our friends had arranged a meeting time. (No, I didn't actually commit and I told them to go on without us if we didn't make it).  What an awesome surprise to show up, text them we had finally made it and receive a text back of, "We're in the maze".  They were still there and we got to hang out for a bit altogether. 
So the kids were lost in a big pit of dry corn kernels, went to a makeshift slide which consisted of a long farming irrigation tube mounted at an angle down a large stack of hay bails made out as stairs, went through a corn maze that had punch stations set up throughout to make sure you had actually hit all the checkpoints and a small petting zoo with chickens, a calf, a goat, and several bunnies.  The goat was an obvious favorite as he would eat anything you held in your hand, so as you reached out, you would feel the soft fluttering of goat lips nuzzle your palm.  The kids dug it!
From there we ate lunch and headed back out to Tara's which ended up in an impromptu game of "Catch Phrase" that was hilarious.  I have to brag a little and say that Tara and I, having shared a childhood, always come out on top without having to say much.  For instance she says, "I've got...."
To which I replied.....wait for it...."a lovely bunch of coconuts'.  Alright, I guess you had to be there, but trust me, we dumbfound a lot of people.  Half the time we amaze ourselves. 
Crew did awesome for the day and it caused only slight freak outs as it was outdoors so I didn't have to worry about a bunch of sick people coming over and wanting to see the baby, or touch the baby or just bother me in general.  Open air events are about all I will be attending for a while I suspect.  The kids had such a great time burying eachother in the corn, (which is what I did as a child in a less safe environment when my cousins and I would play in the grain silos at my uncles ranch) racing eachother through the maze (we split into girls against boys), and finally grabbing the biggest pumpkins they could find.  They even weighed them when we got home and the smallest weighs over 30lbs. 
Shem fixed the heater when we got home, and since I had put a stew on early in the morning, we had a delightful meal ready for today.
Today we carved the pumpkins and used the eye, nose and mouth pieces to steam, mash, and make into pumpkin puree which turned into the best 6 pumpkin pies you've ever tasted.  Then we seasoned and roasted the seeds, and finished up by making popcorn balls!!  A busy and awesome weekend the likes of which I haven't seen in awhile.

Mad Update

So what has been new here.  Only everything, and since I've been a horrible blogger, I'll skip the goods and get to somewhere near now. 
Crew Christopher was born on August 30th and is 8 weeks old today.  The pregnancy- horrid.  Delivery- horrid.  Baby boy- AMAZING!  I was a little shocked when they told me I was having a boy simply because I have grown accustomed to my girls and Landon is quickly approaching 14 so I have forgotten the wonders of a baby boy.  How could I have been so blind!! He is everything I have ever dreamed of and more.  I stare at him in utter amazement at how I can be so in love once again with a new addition to our family.  Everyone is captivated by his every move, sound and I've even had people ask to smell him???  Albeit weird, I happily oblige.  Okay more like I try to stifle a wrinkled nose and questioning face while wondering in my head..."What the.."  I understand your own baby smelling like heaven to you, but other random babies???  Whatever.
He got very sick at two weeks old and had to be hospitalized.  Blood draws, xrays and even a spinal tap were ordered and a 3 day stay while getting 3 very strong antibiotics for some unidentified infection that had made it into the spinal fluid.  It was awful.  Since then I've been a little more protective and worry constantly...anyone who knows me is now thinking..."Is that possible?"  That's right people, Kasi, on some serious worry steroids!  It's not pretty but man is this kiddo worth it all.
His sisters and brother are loving him like crazy..though Ireland is having quite a time adjusting.  She has said, "Mommy, I think the baby is taking you away from me."  Is that the saddest thing you've ever heard??  Broke my heart so we take extra time for her and have put her in the best preschool around so she has something that, "only big girls can do, sorry baby brother."  It makes her feel awesome and she is loving life.  Since then she doesn't worry about whether or not I'm even around.  The older girls are goofy as ever and can I tell you how happy I am that Hailey is ready to let her hair grow long again.  WOOHOO!  She cut it to about shoulder length and it not only makes her look older, but I can't do much with it other than straighten it and leave it down.  Abby took a good cue and left hers long and gorgeous. 

Ireland with the mother's day bouquet from David



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Landon, Hailey and I usually run races together.  Since I was pregnant this year, they chose to run together.  Hailey even ran one on her own.  They both beat their previous best times.

 Landon's voice officially cracks all the time.  I love to hear him laugh because the ups and downs are uncontrollable.  I laugh so he laughs then I laugh harder...you get the picture.  He is only about a half inch shorter than I am now.  It's weird to look eye to eye to your sweet little boy and not recognize his voice.  I just keep thinking...please..slow down.  I am happiest when they are all home and hanging out together.