The Transit Part 3.

This post should really be called: The Long Wait. 

Honestly it felt like a SUPER LONG TIME. It didn't help that the boys and Papa and I shared the front seat in the travelall and as the boys grew, bigger in all directions, and my belly grew, growing sweet baby JKB, it got harder and harder to climb in to the seat, buckle up and enjoy the ride. It got to the point, near the end of the wait, that J, L and I had to sit sideways in the seat so we could all fit. Can you say uncomfortable? Papa had to drive so he got the most space. Several times I fervently wished I could drive just so I could sit a bit more comfortably. Town trips as a family dwindled. City trips ceased completely. The last couple of months we didn't even have to drive to church, as we were hosting, so the only time we all went anywhere was if someone had a doctors appointment in town or the very rare trips out. Thursday's the kids had piano lessons so we moved T's car seat, and with it moved and Papa at work, the kids and I fit quite nicely. Some weeks the car seat never got moved back as we never went anywhere as a family. 

The week we picked up the Transit was packed full of trips to town and made us even more grateful for the space we had when we finally moved all the car seats and booster seats into the Transit. 

We ordered the Transit right before Christmas and I guess we're a little bit spoiled by Amazon and online ordering because we sort of seemed disappointed when it didn't show up the next week even though the dealership told us it would be several months and it was. Every time we went to town and we'd get near the dealership someone would say 'Look for the Transit!' and I'd slow down and we would all crane our heads to check the back lot as we drove by. Actually after we got the Transit S still yelled 'look for the Transit' when we got to that spot in the road for at least two trips to town :) 

Several emails flew around after we hit the second week of  March. Us wondering if they had a ship date, we knew it had been built March 1st, and them reassuring us they would get it up here somehow. No one seemed too sure on how. Something about retro fitted train cars and a limited supply. Then one day we were told it was on a train! Yay! Our necks got sore looking in the lot, Auntie R got on board and became our eyes in town for the Transit.  Several more weeks went by. We were told it was in Canada late in the month but still 13 hours from us. That's as far as the train went, now it would have to be shipped another way. Because of her height and length we were pretty sure it wouldn't be on one of those car hauler trucks. But, as it turned out, it was. Not a typical one I'd guess as it was only holding 4 Transits. We'd sent a email a day or so before asking if it was moving yet and that afternoon we got one back saying they didn't know. Then I checked my email that night and there she was! The dealer ship was closed, he'd sent it at closing, but we were welcome to come take a look at her. Papa was outside so I opened the door and read him the email. There was whooping :) It was April 2nd. The kids were playing outside so we piled them all in the travelall and headed to town. 

This time when someone said 'look for the Transit' we found it. Papa and I were both holding our breath. I know because we were siting so close I could feel him holding it. We both had the same thought at just about the same time. It was BLACK? Processing, processing. We weren't super happy about it but considering all the hassles to get it here we could live with black. We piled out. Maybe it was green? We both took our sun glasses off... IT WAS GREEN! But much darker then we had expected. It still looks black if it's cloudy out. The Transit had only just been delivered, it still had bags on the seats and we couldn't get into it as it was after hours. But we looked in all the windows and drooled over it. Papa was very pleased that it had the 3 marker lights above the windshield, I remember. That was Friday. 

Saturday Papa went in and took a good look at it and talked about when we could pick it up. I had an ultrasound in the city on Wednesday and we were really hoping to be able to take it for its first real trip just the two of us then. Never mind we had a list a mile high as we'd been avoiding the city for some time. It had to be inspected, and sealed, and they did the seats for us and then there was the paperwork. It was a long process for someone who normally bought rigs by hauling them off farmers fields after handing the farmer some cash and signing a bill of sale. 

Monday they did all their work on it and Tuesday my mom kept the kids for a good chunk of the day while Papa and I did paperwork and test drove it. We ended up taking it home on the test drive and the dogs freaked out a little until Papa and I got out. They adjusted to it quickly and didn't even bark at it when we brought her home to stay. They've both, recently, expressed a desire to get into it, a desire I have hopefully killed with a stern NO!!! They would both fit no problem, even though they are huge dogs, but the hair from Tucker would be found for the rest of the vans natural life. No exaggeration necessary. 

Tuesday afternoon after all the paperwork we got handed a pile of keys, a travel mug for me and a hat for Papa and we officially owned a Transit. Our first new vehicle E.V.E.R. It was a little overwhelming. Papa drove her out of the lot and we passed Peggy Sue, our faithful green travelall, and we both looked at her and knew it would be years, if ever, we drove her regularly again. It was a sad but exciting moment. We went for a ride to get a quote to undercoat her. Then Papa drove me back to the dealership and I got in Peggy Sue and drove her down to my folks place. Looking back I realize it was my last ride in Peggy Sue. She ran perfectly and behaved as a lady as always.  Papa drove the Transit to my folks, a bit later as he had some more paperwork to finish, to show the kids and mom and dad the van and excitement ran high! We looked in all the corners of it. The kids tried out each seat and door. Papa cracked the hood and he and Grandpa peered in at the engine. Something I still haven't seen for myself, come to think of it. After while the kids and I went back in the house and Papa and Grandma and Grandpa took it for a drive. They both drove her. The plan was to do the big car seat switch out at home so when it was time to go Papa and the kids piled in the travelall. Papa had decided he wanted the last ride in Peggy Sue with his kids and I'm still kicking myself for not getting a picture. But it was windy and I was a bit worried about having to drive the Transit in the wind on my very first day in a brand new van! Papa followed me out of town, thru the worst of the windy spots and then passed me on the two lanes close to our house and parked in the yard and watched me drive in. The transit did great in the wind, I hadn't needed to worry. I pulled up near the house and the great car seat swap began almost as soon as I turned the key off. In record time we had them all in and we were heading out for a drive. Papa even took the one set of back seats out before we left. 

We do assigned seating with our kids in the vehicle. There is a big with each little. We've moved a few around since that first drive but it's similar. 

It felt enormous. Papa drove and we did the loop. All the kids were amazed at how much they could see out the windows. There was only one problem. She STANK. That new car smell made a few of us green, and not with envy.  Poor L and I had the worst of it. Neither of us got sick but wow the stench gave us a instant headache and the drive wasn't nearly as fun as it should have been. We stopped at the local pizza place for supper and parked her in the window so we could see her. We had their breadsticks yum! That night we left the windows open in the back. 

The next day we took her to the city and loaded her up. We had over $1000 in groceries including a bunch of boxes of apples/potatoes etc, a bunch of wood stuff for the stair railings, a jungle gym from Costco for the yard, two new car seats, a booster seat and we still could have easily fit all the kids without a problem. She still stank when we got back. We used my EO difuser in her several nights running, with peppermint. We left the windows open. We ate in her. Papa put a couple bags of feed in her for several days. She still smells a little but we are getting used to it I guess. Some people love that new car smell but not this crew. 

Loaded up with groceries and trip stuff on our trip to Toad.   

Papa has been calling her Fiona. The kids and I went to see a local schools production of Shrek and the ogre Shrek falls in love with a princess Fiona who later also turns out to be a ogre. Ogres are large and green. The van is large and green. But I don't know. I keep looking for a better name, but if nothing hits me soon she may stay Fiona. Maybe Princess Fiona. Princess Fiona reminds me of my neice A. She loved that movie as a kid. We recently watched Shrek and Shrek 2 and I think she will remain a Fiona. She's classy and large and green and not afraid of hard work and she hauls around our creative little people with style. Seems like a pretty good fit. 

Here she's hauling a ton of corn (that was stacked on a pallet ans loaded with a skid steer!) and 16 bags of chick supplement and all the kids. That big black thing on top is my van bag/diaper bag. There were feed bags behind my seat too! 

Fiona hauling hay home. Beautiful. 

We've had her now for a couple of months and we are loving her. She drives like a dream but is a bit tricky in a lot of wind or right behind a big truck and trailer. She does this weird wobbly thing if you are right behind a big rig that makes me turn green and Papa laugh. Strangely enough we are loving the air conditioning. Papa has always hated air conditioning but either he's getting used to it or it's different somehow because we use it all the time. The kids love the sound system and I love how easy it is to use. We bought some clear totes to haul groceries in as they tend to flop around back there uncontained. Not a problem we've ever had before. She's fairly easy to keep clean as she's not carpeted and a broom does a decent job in short order. We are slowly making her ours. Papa moved the jack to a less annoying place and we have little totes under the seats for the little two guys with diapers and wipes,food pouches and toys and different colored totes for garbage under other seats. Papa has been experimenting at the car wash trying to get the nicest cleanest look without a ton of work and seems to have figured out the magic formula to keeping her looking shiny. He still wants mud flaps on the back tires so she's not muddy in the back. It's a process but we are loving it and her! It's amazing what we can haul in her and how much less vehicle stress we have now. 

They say it's the little things in life and they are right. One of the things we are enjoying most about the new Transit is that everyone has their own cup holder and everyone can have their own water bottle. Oh and the tinted windows! Even on a very sunny day all the kids can still see! With a bunch of blue eyed kids this used to be a big problem! Another thing we both love is the windshield wipers...they come on all by themselves when a spot on the top gets wet. Very handy and very cool. 

And that folks is the rest of the story of how we got our Transit!! 

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. 

A Two Wheel Barrow Homestead

Yesterday in the city we picked up another wheel barrow. Our old wheel barrow is pretty much just a mixing and holding area for the cows sweet treat mix. Our cows are 100% grain free so we mix them up a special grain free treat for milking time. They love it. Here the old wheel barrow in its spot inside the woodshed. This wheel barrow has hauled uncounted numbers of loads of stucco, and it shows. It's got a bit of a wobble. It still works great, honest, it's just not quite reliable enough to haul heavy loads of stucco anymore..probably wasn't really last year either but Papa is good at making it work. It's been retired from stucco hauling and 'put out to pasture' as a cow candy machine. 

Here is the new stucco hauler, wood hauler and all around work horse.  J put it together this morning. Beautiful ain't she? 

So I guess in the world of the homesteaders...We are now a TWO wheel barrow operation 😉

Living Room...Ah We Have Missed You!

What an amazing amount of space! Yay! The walls are not cured yet so nothing can touch them yet but all the furniture is back ABOUT where it was. Wether it will stay there or not is still a bit up in the air. But the stucco mess is done and gone and while the floor is very much less then perfectly clean of stucco it's swept up and mostly clean ;) 

Papa cranked the music up and we headed outside to see how sound proof the house is now, it was not at all before the stucco!, and we were quite surprised at the difference! Yay! Papa said a lot of sound went thru the top window frame so when that window goes in and the outside stucco it should be even more sound proof. He also grabbed his guitar and tried out the acoustics. It sounds better to me but what do I know about it ;) 

Papa still has some wiring to do after a few more curing days have past. There will be lights in the boxes above the windows and plugs around the bottom, but he's got the speakers all set up and the clock, printer and computer. 

The floor still has quite a bit of stucco mess but we will slowly get it all off. T enjoyed playing on the rug for a bit before lunch which is something he's been missing as there just wasn't a good place for him before. 

We cleaned all the toys out of the little kids room and they live in the living room again! Yay for being able to see the kids as they play again. The books will wait for a bit. I've got to find a way to store them yet. We will slowly get it all together and organized. The plan for the week is to slowly get everything out of the kids rooms that belong in the living room and then clean the kids rooms so we can start our new school year with a clean organized space.

 Papa goes back to work tomorrow, full time, so building will be relegated to evenings and weekends. He wants to get the top window in and the first coat of stucco on the outside before the weather gets too cold and then work on little projects all thru the fall and winter. 

Living Room Stucco First Coat July 2015

Just a quick look see for you. This is about 12-15 wheel barrow loads of stucco! Papa started on Monday and yesterday afternoon he ran out of lime. So today he's off to the city to pick up more lime. He can't reach those top two pieces on either side of the top window. He'll have to get scaffolding to finish those areas. He's hoping to start the second coat inside by Saturday! 

He got this chunk done on the front as well. Right now the plan is to get one coat on all of the outside walls and two coats on the inside walls before winter :) 

T Moments, 8 weeks old.

First bath

An often seen expression. 

Sleeping while hugging Papa.

First time in the new stroller.

His chest is so wide it just amazes me.

Sleeps in such odd positions.

First real smile caught on camera. 

First visit with his doctor. Well except when she delivered him. 

Visiting the chiropractor, Megan. He loved it and just lay there so contentedly. 

All wrapped up and chilling in the car seat while I put wood on the fire. Baby sausage we call it when they are all wrapped up like this.

So T is now almost 8 weeks old, he's 12.8 ish pounds, sleeps fairly decently; only waking once in the middle of the night and then once between 6 and 8am. He loves to sit and watch the kids play or be packed around by E or J or L or Papa or I and sleep on us, or sleep on the big chair in the living room. He loves baths and if I put one hand behind his head he floats and kicks like he thinks he can swim. He grabbed a toy yesterday and then started to cry when he moved his hand and the toy came with. I had to rescue him from it as he couldn't let go of it and he got pretty upset. He's already grabbed my hair and my headphone cord. He's still covered in hair, even his ears and he's getting more active during awake times and his awake times are getting longer. He's such a fun little guy to be around, wide eyed and content, that when he's cranky he sets the tone for the whole house. S will come running up to me, tears in eyes, to ask if T is 'Fine? Fine?' If T cries for more the his normal fussy feed me cry. The other kids fight over who gets to hold him and if he's in his chair he is often petted and entertained. 

Papa The Sleep Master.

This was Easter Sunday during church :) He's the sleep master all right! 

Motivated Monday!

Papa and I are planning and scheming :). A process that involves a lot of coffee, several lists, and a calender. Papa still has several weeks off so we are figuring out a to do list, a materials needed list, our hatchery order, and several other appointments. It's gearing up to be a productive spring. :) 

Yup finishing the inside walls are on the list :) 

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!! 

Homemade Sushi Night!

It was awesome and he is so going to make it more often :) 

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 :)