Announcement: Clorox 2 WORKS, y’all! I did 7 loads of laundry the other day, one of which was Caleb’s white polos. He looks MY-TEE-FINE in these duds, but the combine must think the look is incomplete without some official John Deere grease. Any self-respecting boss gets down and dirty with the equipment when it needs some lovin’ hands, and his hands are the LOVINGEST. Speaking of hands, for Father’s Day the girls painted their handprints in layers on a nice new pair of deerskin gloves. Ruthanne made her mark in John Deere green and Miriam stamped her hands in yellow. We wanted to give Caleb something practical that would also show our appreciation for his hard-working hands. I can’t remember if I already said this, but the other day, Rooster said, “You’re the best daddy for working so hard.” I saw my stoic husband melt to the floor right there. It’s moments like this that encourage me as a mom—no, not as a mom—just as a human bein’.
Sissy and I were in the grain cart yesterday, so we’ve been having a blast. Every time we see a combine come close, she squeals and frantically wiggles her fingers and toes with excitement. It seems that she’s just as enthused as her papa about machinery. After supper, Caleb and I switched babies, so Rooster and I bounced around the field till about 10:00. She must have gotten a second wind, because she was quite animated, telling me that we were going to a “horse show” in “Johnny Tractor.” I love her imagination! She holds her little fist up to her mouth and pretends to talk on the radio, “Goin’ to a horse show, aren’t we, Tyler? We ARE. Gonna check horsies’ oats and give them more for horse show. We ARE.”
The kids are doing so well in the field; Rooster with her pony backpack stuffed full of goodies and a lunchable, and Sissy with her puffs and carrots for chewing. I got Rooster a little dog bed that works perfect as her “bedroll like a real cowgirl,” and Caleb has a perfect spot for it under the buddy seat. He said she slept there for two full hours yesterday afternoon! Sissy sleeps in her car seat for naps, but other than that, she pretty much likes to stay buckled in the buddy seat where she can best see the goings-on. I set her on a blanket on the floor of the tractor, and she was happy there, too. I swear she fell asleep with her eyes open and her hand stuffed in her snack box for a full hour. She looked really drowsy and didn’t move a muscle. I just wish there was room for me to curl up and nap, too!
It seems that there is some communicable disease spreading through our crew, and I’ve managed to catch it! My throat is sore and I think my head has an extra pound or two of snot fogging it up in there. I woke up this morning with it crusted all over my face—super sexy. Hopefully after some coffee and Dayquil, I will be right as rain—but I will indeed be operating heavy machinery, so everybody watch out!
1. Be ready to go at the drop of a hat...sometimes without a lunchbox.
2. Has removed the word impossible from her vocabulary!
3. Can hold a baby, take care of a toddler and drive a tractor or combine all at the same time.
4. Must be able to cook for a crew - large or small.
5. Must be able to read minds.
6. Must be able to banter with a parts man until he realizes you DO know what you're talking about.
7. Must be the entertainment director for those rainy days.
8. Be a wife, mom, friend, helper, cook, problem solver, taxi driver or extra crew hand at all times.
9. Can handle the call that makes you react, "You need what? When?" Dropping everything you're doing to make it happen.
10. At the end of the day say, "I really do love this life".
