Joyful

I thought I'd take you into the weekend with a few images that please me.

I was up on the trailer as this little cow was loaded. She and I shared a moment, a moment between two different species. I wish her nothing but the best out in that giant pasture. Maybe we'll meet again. Barbara and Mikki having a moment of their own. I love them both to pieces. Barbara is one of Grant's preschool teachers and was the teacher to Brooke, Garrett, and Claire when they were wee ones. Mikki is her amazingly sweet daughter whom my kids (and everyone else's that know her) adore. Every time they come out to the ranch, they work themselves silly. I hope they know how much we appreciate all they do for us. I think Grant was trying to tell us something. Perhaps it was something along the lines of "put me to bed--I'm little and I play hard while at the ranch. Someone needs to be a good parent and allow for my proper rest." The poor child fell asleep on the bench at our kitchen table. I really loved it when his older sissy Claire covered him up so he'd be warm as he slept. I felt a little bad removing him from the warmth that she created.
Happy weekend to you.

First Official Day

We know some amazing people. Have I mentioned that before? I should be shouting it from the rooftops! Max and I are completely in awe of the love and support we are receiving on a daily basis! I was just considering typing a list of all the great helpers we've had in the last few days, but I'm so scared I'll leave someone out. Actually, I know I'd leave someone out. Thank you ALL so much for helping us get the pumpkin stand ready! These kiddos were part of our work force yesterday. What cute kids and great helpers! They rolled many, many pumpkins off the trailer before the day was over. It was a wonderful example of child labor at its best! This sweet lady is Barb. She and her husband Tim went to the pumpkin field with us last weekend and brought a load of the smallest pumpkins back to Albuquerque. Barb called asking if GG was set up to receive donations through United Way because she went to donate and couldn't find us on their list. I told her we were, but that someone else had mentioned they could not find us when they went to donate. Barb took it upon her self to go down to United Way and get everything situated. Yesterday when we were exhausted and weak from unloading pumpkins, she drove by and saw us working. That prompted her to head to the store and come back with Popsicles for everyone! Barb, thanks a million. They really hit the spot!

We also know another terrific Barb. Barb L. is/was the preschool teacher for all four of our children. Not only that, but she is a great friend and a talented person. We asked if she would mind too terribly painting the pumpkin tower Max created inside the hay maze. Even though she always has a million and ten things to do, she happily agreed. Barb, I love you!

What a masterpiece she created! Instead of the one giant pumpkin we envisioned, Barb thought five little pumpkins sitting on a fence would be super cute. Was she ever right!

This is Tyler, Barb's oldest daughter.

She just got in town yesterday from Utah to visit her family. Isn't painting a pumpkin tower exactly what everyone likes to do during their vacation time? I'd also like to add that she has a little baby growing in her belly. (No reason for adding that besides the fact I'm excited for her and her hubby.)

This lovely lady is another of Barb's precious daughters. Mikki is one of my favorite teenagers on the planet. So is her younger sister, Bailey. You can just look at their smiles and tell how wonderful, positive, and loving these girls are!

My friend Tammy also got in on the action. It is no small task for Tammy to help. She has four kids, two under the age of four. I know how valuable her time is. Tammy, thanks for coming out and helping! If you get a chance, look through her blog and check out her gorgeous photos! She is one heck of a photographer!

I didn't get any super cool pictures of Renee (in the pink shirt) working on the pumpkin tower. I should have--she spent a lot of time stapling foam up to keep the kiddos safe.I did, however, get a shot of her using the post hole digger. Renee, thanks for working at the stand ALL day, making dinner for us the other night, and always being there whenever we need you! We love you and thank you for all you do!

Anyone remember that Zack character?How lucky are we that a super cute, super cool sixteen year old would sacrifice his ENTIRE Saturday working at our pumpkin stand?! I don't know why people are always complaining about teenagers--the ones we know are absolute delights! Zack, thanks for lugging all those giant pumpkins for us today! Your muscles are welcome any time. (And your company isn't so bad either!)

We love how the tower turned out! Barb and helpers, thank a ton! You have already made many children happy and it's only been one day.

No, I did not announce the word of the day winners again. I procrastinate, I'm a slacker (was that redundant?), and I'm too tired! Because I feel bad that I haven't, I did not use a new vocab word today. Doesn't that make incredible sense?

Hope you're having a good weekend. If you need a pumpkin, you know where to find 'em!

Thankful Thursday--Float Edition

It takes a lot of work to build a holiday float.

It takes many creative and talented people to bring a woman's vision to fruition.

We were encouraged to enter the city of Rio Rancho's annual holiday parade. Max and I laughed at the idea. Us? Build a float? Ha!

Sometimes in life, it's not important to have a skill, but rather to know someone who does. We are blessed to have a dear friend, and a former preschool teacher of three of our children, who is a master butcher paper and cardboard magician. The lady is amazing! She transforms her preschool into a new world every month! If they're studying farms, she builds a barn. If they are studying the earth, she throws up a volcano. Kings and queens? Expect a castle with a bridge and moat. Now don't imagine anything small and dinky. These creations are impressive, and time consuming, and amazing. The children get in these creations and experience them. The volcano had a ladder in the center where the children would go up and throw lava balls out the top. From the castle, they would lift the draw bridge with a rope. Mrs. Lindsey pours she heart, soul, and creativity into everything she does.

Max and I are no idiots. We knew just who to ask to create our float. There's something else you should know about Mrs. Lindsey--she is giving and kind and fun. Of course she couldn't turn us down. Of course she would create the cutest float Rio Rancho had ever seen.



This is Barbara working on the sign for the float up until the last possible moment. Her life is always consumed with something. It turns out that her endless talents are not a secret only we know. She had so little time to pull our crew together.

Speaking of our crew--WOW! We are so blessed to have family and friends that do so much for us. "Hey guys. Do you want to spend your whole Saturday building a float for the parade?" They didn't hesitate. Roy and Beth opened up their home for a yummy brunch and work place. Thanks, guys! You're the best!

It was actually a whole lot of fun putting this crazy thing together. I'm not going to put captions under every picture. I think you can see how wonderful our friends are.
Thank you so much to all who participated in the float. We thank those who actually built the float over the two Saturdays in November, as well as those who allowed their adorable children to ride in the parade. The pictures do not do it justice. All the kids had Christmas lights on their hats that blinked and big smiles on their faces. (Beth--thanks for buying ALL those lights and bandannas! Very generous of you.) They were so cute throwing candy and yelling Merry Christmas to the spectators.

You could definitely tell it was our first time participating in the parade. Our candy ran out after a couple blocks. Who knew so many people came out to watch?

Yes, Max drove the truck like that. What a safe way to transport a truck full of children. Keep in mind he drove very slowly. See the horse's nostrils? They looked so cool at night with the light shining. Glow in the dark nostrils are the best! We were definitely a favorite with the little kids. It's pretty exciting seeing a gigantic horse driving down the road pulling a wagon full of singing kids.

We had no expectations when we decided to enter. We thought we'd get our name out there and have a little fun. The results did not come out for a few days because of some confusion with the voting. We were very curious to see the winners--there were some pretty fancy floats entered this year. Imagine our surprise when Max talked to Mrs. Joiner, the parade organizer, who told him we were the GRAND PRIZE WINNERS!!! Wow! There had been a three way tie for first place, so the judges had to go to a tie breaker. I guess three out of five judges gave us a perfect score! We ended up getting the title and the $500 prize money. Isn't that a kick in the pants? Didn't I tell you Mrs. Lindsey and our worker ants were the best?

Thanks so much, parade crew! You did us proud.

My tech-savvy sis-in-law just informed me that the pictures on this post and the post from yesterday are all messed up on her computer. WHAT? She let me know that it depends on what browser??? you have how the page is displayed. Big bummer. Sorry to those of you reading it with pictures stacked on pictures. Would you let me know if yours looks weird? I'm curious now. To me, the pictures are placed just fine. Have a good night.