The Transit Part 2

After we got back from our trip we were a little sad to see the van go. It was so handy in so many ways compared to our travelall. The first time we piled all back into the travelall we had a bit of a eye opening experience. The boys were growing faster then we realized and we didn't fit so nicely in the front seat all together anymore. Papa realized, somewhere in there, that if all our children stayed the same size as he was they would all fit nicely into the travelall forever, BUT J, our oldest was fast outgrowing Papa's size and he was only 11 years old! (At 12 he now out weighs his father and is as tall as I am!) 

Papa started watching YouTube videos and kept on talking about the van. I stayed mostly out of it but I did mention to him again that unless he was serious I didn't want to hear anymore about it. He kept on talking, and talking and talking. I have to admit I tuned a bit of it out, but it got harder and harder to do. He started talking to the guys at work and church and everyone all the time. One day he started talking about car payments and long term stuff like 'if we have more kids' and 'be so nice for long trips.' He started figuring numbers and I heard a lot about that for several weeks. 

Then one night just before bed he asked me if I was opposed to buying a new van, ordering it just the way we wanted it. I said no I didn't but I still didn't quite believe it. Soon after he went into the local dealer to talk to someone and came home with a web address; a Build your own Transit type webpage. Cool stuff btw. He also found a online transit forum and started reading like crazy. One of the big things that he really wanted, and he's been talking about painting the travelalls all this color, in turns, for years, was the color green as a rig color. But it had to be 'the right color green.' We've been to TONS of car shows looking for just the right green color. Turns out its one of the colors offered for the transit. I think that's when I began to believe it MIGHT happen. 

Papa went thru the webpage with a fine tooth comb, we 'discussed' for some time if we wanted black interior or gray. I wanted gray and I lost. He went thru each step of the website with me and we hammered out the details. Most of it was his ideas coming into play. Tow package, larger back up camera screen, something about the dash system (I still have no idea what that's all about! But I guess he'll figure it out and let me know.), extra long which meant extra tall and dual tires in the back, the color, his seat being powered (they don't make it available for mine) and privacy windows. There was more I'm sure but I've forgotten it now. 

We chatted more and more and he watched more YouTube stuff and then one day, fairly out of the blue he decided we were going to order it. It was right before Christmas. Merry Christmas to me I remember thinking. The next week I felt a little off. I told Papa, 'No he told me it is in your head. Your not pregnant.' HA!! I waited another week. Papa went to town and ordered the van. I still felt off, I was sure he was wrong. (For the record Papa almost always knows I'm pregnant before I do.) A few days later I asked him again. 'Nope not pregnant' he was sure. The next morning I took a test. Waited for it and then climbed back into bed with Papa and whispered in his ear. 'Good thing we ordered a van Papa, we aren't going to fit in the Travelall after August.' And then I giggled as he stared at me. 

The Transit Part 1.

Most of you know Papa is an International Havester guy. He's never really wanted any other kind of vehicle. In fact, his long time dream was to only run IHC's as our rigs. We managed it for several years since he got that little Scout awhile back and drove it or Polly ( the yellow travelall) to work while the kids and I drive the green travelall Peggy Sue on our travels. But things happen and life sometimes takes you for a ride where, when and IN something you didn't quite expect. We have to back up a bit. 

Last fall I was pretty sick. I had a couple of kidney stones, a blood infection and two surgeries in about 6 weeks. While all this, and more, was going on Papa's Granny, his last living grandparent, slowly went down hill and then passed away. We wanted to go and say goodbye and see the family. This meant a 16 hour drive and a border crossing. Neither which are super fun, never mind with 8 kids packed like sardines in the travelall. The last time we'd done a trip like this we'd had 6 kids packed into the same travelall and it was pretty full, but at least everyone got their own seat. This time the two big boys and Papa and I would be sharing the front bench seat and none of us like the idea of being crammed together for 16 hours, one way!, never mind right after surgery. 

The New Transit and Peggie Sue. 43 years between them. This was the day the Transit arrived.

After Papa saw me in for my last surgery he headed downtown to find something to eat, on his way downtown he saw a Transit. It was parked in a car rental business and it gave him an idea. When I came to, the idea was fully planted. We would rent a 15 passenger Transit. Papa had heard of them before, they've been common in Europe for years, and even done a bit of research on them. He liked the idea of them right from the start. It was the start. 

We rented the Transit, loved it, and the morning we left on our trip Papa was telling me all the good things about it. I was already sold. I'd been in it less then 20 minutes at this point. I had my own seat, several cup holders, and a beautiful view out the front! Besides that, the kids were happy in the back, all the bigs had a little and we still had enough room for all our stuff no problem. On the return trip we even managed to fit a little desk in the back with everything else. As Papa was telling me all these other good things I had yet to notice and some I never would have, he'd driven it to our place the night before, I stopped him. Flat out told him to stop. I did. We weren't even 20 minutes into our trip and I told him flat out. IF you DO NOT want me to FALL in love with this van even more, stop talking right now. IF this van is something you'd even consider buying KEEP TALKING. If you're trying to convince yourself. KEEP TALKING. I'm already sold. IF you can not even consider buying a van like this; STOP TALKING RIGHT NOW. The kids were all ears in the back seats. It's not very often they hear that tone at Papa ;). He was quiet for about 5 minutes. Then he kept on telling me about the van. And I smiled, but I didn't believe it. Not even a little. I don't think I really believed it until he handed me the keys and told me to get in.  

But we have quite a bit of story between left. Which I think I'll save for another day. 

Throwback Thursday

    I keep this picture as the screen picture on my iPad. S loves it. PAPA he screams every single time he sees it, just like G did before him. 

    It was late at night and the boys were tired but the gas station ( look at the price of Gas!!) was pretty much deserted and I asked Papa to pose for me and he did. A very rare event. 

    This was taken before E was born in 2006. Here are the boys J and L in the back seat. This was the first trip to town in Polly. I remember L hated that jacket. We had been driving a brown VW Rabbit before this but the three kids wouldn't fit so Papa bought Polly and got her ready as a family hauler. She has been through a few updates: she has a 3rd seat in the very back and can now haul 9 :)  We recently thought we had to up grade to something bigger but then we realized that she seats 4 in the front seat :) So Papa and I and J and L can all sit in the front and we still have room for baby!! Yay!! 

Very Random Sunday Ramble

I decided to try a Sunday walkabout this week as I can't seem to get blog posts together these days!

Here is parts and pieces of our week in no particular order :) 

Kids love chicks!

414! They are doing really well and we have only lost 3 so far. Super quiet and active. It looks like a great batch this year! 

Isabel and Maggie enjoying a new patch of grass! They have really remembered that moving = new grass and act like fresh calves when ever anyone starts pounding on a fence post! 

The vanity arrived this week! Here is the bottom right out of the box! 

And here it is all placed together in the bathroom it goes in! Yay! I also got the tub drain in this week! (My first plumbing job :) ) 

The pantry floor got painted and so did some rocks...

E's painted rocks. 

J's. 

L's. 

R's. 

And mine, the monster was for J3 and the rabbit for G. 

The kids got the frames off the cement! 

Three little boys got their ears lowered. 

I tried to get a smiley S picture right before bed one night and he just would not hold still! Lol. 

J got a movie of a surprise can blowing up in a fire which I can't seem to add at the moment. I got to go out to a fundraiser with some friends and Papa chose to stay home with the kids. They had a hotdog roast with the M twins!  It was a fun night topped off by a great preformance of the Drill Team! Glow in the dark! Very very cool! 

In house news Papa got the upper cabinets in the kitchen and most of the last little cabinet built! We are slowly getting stuff together and making the house livable. This week we should be able to concentrate a little more on house and a little less on farming as the chicks are well set up and settled. 

In other farming news.  We lost a pig out of the blue last night and have no idea why. A little pig thankfully and not a sow. The calves are still out back and haven't come up to whine at the cows in at least a week. The raised beds are doing great and I didn't lose anything to frost this week! The flowers I planted even all survived! As are the raspberries and lilics! 

Papa has been driving Jack to work without a top on him! He bundles up in the morning so he doesn't freeze before he gets there! He took the kids for a ride too. 

I got this picture of a very rare two headed cow :) and this super cute kitten, who is as of yet still nameless...

Tame little male. He's super happy to get a scratch as you walk by. 

Here is a kitchen teaser :) 

Thanks for looking at our week! Have a wonderful Sunday :) 

Riding With The Top Down

Papa came home from work yesterday please as punch with himself. He'd taken a little time after work to take the top off the Scout. He says it's quieter with out it. Lol. (I didn't find it quieter but I did find if you could get it up to 3rd you sort of out ran the noise.)  I took it for a spin while he BBQed up some pork chops. I went around to see if I could see the calves, I couldn't, but I'm pretty sure the three trucks I met on the road found me entertaining, putt putt-ing along hanging on to the steering wheel for dear life over the bumpy road and laughing every time I went to shift!  

Looks pretty cool hey? Jack, as we named him, is a 1963 International Scout and those of you who live around us may have noticed Papa has been driving him to work as Jack is replacing the little black car as his work rig. Rides like a bumpy farm truck but the wind in your hair and the view make it worth it. The challenging shifting pattern; reverse is where 1st normally is, 1st is where 2nd should be and 3rd is where 2nd should be, and that's all the gears, makes shifting interesting. I still couldn't get him to shift from 3rd to 2nd! (It was only my second time driving him and I WILL conquer it yet!) 

Came home to this: 

And boy oh boy! They were good :) 

Our International Ambulance :)

MY TRUCK!

Papa and I had chiropractor appointments early (ok 10:15 and 10:30) Saturday morning and so we packed up and headed out. Made it with all 7 kids in tow with everyone dressed, hair brushed and we even had breakfast!! Mind you it wasn't much of a breakfast. We had BIG plans for the day. Chiropractor, Papa had to work on a truck for an hour or so, taking the chicken plucker back and Papa had to prepare his sermon for the next days preaching. Full day! I was going to prepare our potluck meal and keep the kids busy so Papa could study.

ANYWAY we got to Dr. M's office, our wonderful Chiropractor :), on time and only slightly frantic from our crazy rushed morning. M called me in and Papa took S and sat down with the kids to wait. M and I had a lovely visit while she straightened me out and showed me how to relax my jaw. I'd tripped over a kids lawn chair and landed on another kids lawn chair and put myself out big time. By the time she was done and we left her office I was feeling much better.. A, her receptionist, was digging in a back pack when we stepped out which was weird but I whatever.. or so I thought until I looked at Papa.. I knew that look. Adrenaline was running HIGH!! A turned to me and said 'two kids tried to steal your truck!' WHAT!!! MY TRUCK!! MY PEGGY SUE!!! If it hadn't been for the look on Papa's face I'm not sure I'd have believed her.. Sorry A :) That's NUTS!! Why on earth would anyone want MY truck!! Sure she looks nice but most people couldn't tell you what breed she is or have any idea WHAT she was at all. We are ALWAYS getting people who want to know WHAT she is.

She is btw a International Travelall. A 1973 International Travelall.. 

She's not the kind of rig most people would try and steal. In fact Papa has always said that she had no value to anyone so he's always left his keys in her. "Who wants to steal a old rig like her' WAS his line about all our IHC's for years. Max worth for her is $5000. Seriously. That's it. 

Never mind the car seats!! Who steals a rig with 4 car seats and a base for a baby seat!! 

Well two 17 year old teenage boys tried too. Apparently they thought it might be fun to joyride and trash. 

Thankfully my Papa loves his trucks and recognizes the sound each one makes at start up.

Seriously. I'm still having a hard time processing it. 

Papa was sitting there in the waiting room. Heard Peggy Sue roar to life, Internationals never do anything by half's, looked up and saw our Peggy Sue pull a u turn RIGHT in front of the big 'ol picture window Megan has there in her office!! So what does he do? Jumps up, puts S on the chair he was sitting on and RUNS SOCK FOOT out on to the street. 

Now just a little note here. Peggy Sue is a good truck. She starts. She stops. She's never ever stalled on either one of us. EVER! 

Back to the story. Peggy Sue, being loyal?, stalled.  Her stalling... that was a God thing!! 

Yup, just as they were taking off down the street. 

So what did Papa do?? Papa ran up behind the drivers window which he'd left open and grabbed the kid by the throat. 

Apparently this is where Papa thinks the kid did something like Sid says in Ice Age

 'involuntary and messy!' 

Yeah apparently while you are stealing a truck your adrenaline is running pretty high and if someone sneaks up on you and grabs you in the act it's pretty darn frighting. 

A said when the kid ran past the window he still looked terrified but I'm getting ahead of myself.

Papa grabbed the kid by the throat because he wasn't wearing a shirt. Only a thin chain. He had his backpack on his lap. The truck was stalled. So Papa grabbed the kids back pack but when the kid left the truck he dropped his backpack and ran. Oh and the other kid.. the one in the passenger side.. he took off too.. the other way! So Papa threw the backpack on to the sidewalk.. and went to check on the kids.  

A, who had run outside on the sidewalk herself to see what all the fuss was about and didn't have quite so much adrenaline running through her, suggested they should look in the backpack and see if he had any ID. He did :) Oh and by the way.. Unless something like this happens to you.. which I sincerely hope not,  NEVER LOOK IN A 17 YEAR OLD BOYS BACKPACK.  The smell was enough for me. A was very brave! 

Papa called the police and they asked him a million questions and then nothing happened. Dr. M took another patient. Papa, A, the kids and I all waited. A cop car went by once.. twice.. six or seven times.. We thought hmm.. must be looking for them. Dr. M's patient is done so Papa goes in. Soon it's almost noon and we are wondering if they are coming at all and what we should do with the backpack. A and Dr. M were only working until noon so Papa took the kids over the block to the police station.. yes we were a whole block away from the police station when these boys tried to steal our truck. The station was empty but there were two ladies sitting out front. They told Papa the police had told them they'd be at the station in 15 minutes. So they walked back to Dr. M's office. Sure enough trucks pull by 15 minutes later and Papa went to meet them at the station. A few minutes later he was back with a cop.. who talked to everyone and told us, to our surprise, that they had already caught the boys. They'd trapped them in Riverside Park. Trapping them on 3 sides and the river and flushed them out. They were known to the police and Papa gave a pretty good description. He wanted Papa to go give his statement and so Papa walked us to the park next door, not Riverside, and the kids played in the park, I nursed the baby and visited with a friend and Papa gave his statement to the police... yeah so not your normal trip to town!! 

Turns out both kids where let out that afternoon as they are underage.

 Papa did press charges and he will have to go to court and testify against them. Those two ladies waiting for the cops?? Turned out to be the drivers mom and sister.. Papa had quite a chat with them. His mom apologized for her sons behavior and then told Papa that she'd stolen 14 vehicles in her years. That apple didn't fall very far from the tree did it? 

Anyway our day was half over by the time we got home. We both completely forgot about taking the plucker back, but Papa did fix the truck and prepare his sermon.. James 5.. and he did a super good job on it too :) 

Oh and our kids.. saw quite a bit of it. I wish I'd seen it. They were pretty impressed by their Papa, as well they should be. The description I got of him running the truck down and grabbing the kid's neck was awesome. It reminded me of Mel Gibson in the Lethal Weapon movies.. 

But this was MY MAN and HE IS AWESOME!!

Don't you mess with his kids, his wife, his trucks or anything/one he loves!! 

Oh yeah and we have a new agreement.. WE KEEP THE KEYS IN OUR POCKETS NOW :) 

We've had sort of an eye opening in several areas recently.

Either a couple days before or a couple after this event there was a white SUV driving really slowly past our place. This happens sometimes.. sometimes people even stop or come talk to us. A critter is out. They like the way we farm. We have piglets beside the road and they are cute.. they are on their phone and they get reception there. This person was leaning out of her SUV staring at the place. Papa and I were both instantly on alert. The kids were driving their bikes up and down the driveway. Papa started walking out to the road and I held back a bit.. I had S sleeping on me and I knew if there was a problem closer to the house would be a better place to be. I heard some words and I remember Papa saying "Hey I got 7 kids there" and what am I suppose to think? and then saw Papa relax a bit.. Turns out the area we live in is doing some sort of farm survey and she was suppose to drive around and see what areas were being used as a farm and what kind of things people were farming. Papa talked to her for quite a while and she gave him a newsletter that explained what she was doing. I think we must have missed that memo. 

Oh and that other guy selling books?? He's not out to get your kids.. did a bit of research.. he's driving around trying to sell books. I googled his company and so did many others. Here is a link. They might not be the best company out there but he does work for an actually company who sells books door to door.. he's not a creep trying to get your kids... in fact he seems like a big kid himself. 

IHC Fire Truck

Papa got to work on this cool International fire truck. No better place to test drive it then home to see the family!! 

One nice picture.

Tongues! 

Sad faces.

Teeth.

Goofy!

How many kids fit inside??

Well at least 6!!

Though you can only see 5, they are in there.

Chicks At 7.5 Weeks.

Polly is a nice movable shelter :) 

Looking GREAT!! 

Peggy Sue

Is on the road once more :) 

The Great Surprise Puzzle

Papa bought this puzzle last year on one of our city trips. He hates puzzles so I was a tad confused as to why he was getting it. Yeah it took me a minute too :) It`s International Trucks in the picture.. and farms and kids! Once I saw it through his eyes I loved it too. It sat on our home school center until about a month ago when I took it down and the kids and I started it. We wanted it to be a surprise.. so we started constructing it on baking pans and when we had about half of it done we put it all together on the table. Except Papa came home about 30 minutes too soon and ended up seeing it and holding the baby while I finished it. :) I got the kids up and did our `giving`and then they went back to bed and I finished the puzzle while Papa and Grace and I chatted :) We glued it together a few days later and it sits on my entrance table until I can figure out where I want it. I think on the wall in our bedroom but will have to see if it fits.

Driving Lessons/Hard Work/Bales

L on top of the stack. 

I love these pictures. 

My kids are growing up and maturing in so many ways!! 

We recently went out as a family and picked up a load of straw bales. 

If your a regular reader you already knew that :) 

Here is the rest of the story.. :)

We picked up the bales at the same farm we normally do.. but this time they were still in the field.. SO...

J got some driving lessons while Baby G slept soundly through out. She only woke at the very end.. while I was driving... to smile sweetly at the Straw Man who was getting a ride back to his truck. 

J did really well driving in the field. It was his second time driving ever and he was pretty excited! The peanut gallery (E, R and J3) egged him on from the backseat, backseat drove and pretty much enjoyed every minute of it. L was helping Papa and the Straw Man stacking bales as they threw them on the trailer. I was surprised to see he can move those bales pretty good, all that good food is turning into muscles I see :)  J drove down the field and then hopped on the bales for the final few before getting to ride the bales down the field to the road. Super fun  I was told but apparently they were a tad bit worried they'd have to ride home that way.. boys!! 

I wanted to make this saying into a reminding sign for me in the house.. and didn't realize until I'd saved it that I copied over the original.. that's ok I can share it with you :) 

That's 97 bales.. and we got two full loads.. so that's 194 bales on the floor. 

Waiting to be made into walls. 

That should do us for a while :) 

Thanks for reading.. my baby is home and my bed is calling me :) 

1st Official Ride in Peggy Sue!!

Ready to RIDE!!! 

Yes they are in their PJ`s. Papa got the 3rd seat in after work one day and we were ready for bed when he got home :) 

Isn`t she beautiful! 

Making goofy faces :)