It turns out I have less and less time the more children and hobbies I have. Weird. So weird. The only consolation is we've been doing tons of fun things, so I haven't taken the time to sit down and write about it all until now. I expect zero people to actually read this all, except for my children.. when I die. They have to read every bit of it. Buckle up kids, and reminisce the last half of 2022 with me.
4th of July
We spent the 4th in Stockham with loads of cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, and friends. I was almost 39 weeks pregnant and it was so hot. I swelled up and couldn't drink enough water to keep me hydrated. I think I had some heat exhaustion that night, because I felt horrible. But not even that could put me into labor.
The big kids set up a root beer float stand and the little kids set up a popsicle stand. The littles spent most of their earnings buying treats from the opposite stand. Somehow the bigs ended up with free popsicles, though.
We caught the firework show at Brooke and Joey's house and Macklin covered his ears for the majority of it.
Kliewer Family
The week after Carver was born, my family came to visit. The grandkids are outgrowing my parents' laps.
We like to take advantage of any opportunity to get together, whether it be football games or birthdays!
It's been fun to have cousins so close in age.
My parents took the kids to their camper a couple times this summer/fall. They always enjoy the memories made there!
My happy place is with babies on my lap.
I think that's Mack's happy place too.
My newest nephew, Hayes, made his arrival last month with a full head of hair and the cutest little dimple.
So happy to have another baby to snuggle. It finally feels like there's enough babies to go around.
Gatherings grew by three this year!
Hamilton County Fair
We ventured out to the county fair when Carver was a week and a half.
Mack got turned down for a couple of rides. He was just a freckle too short, so he took it personally and refused to ride anything that he was tall enough for. Thankfully the cotton candy saved the day for a certain two-year-old.
The big kids love running around with cousins.
It turns out that James' weak stomach lives on in our children. Trevin was the most recent victim of vomiting at the fair, but that didn't keep him from trying to get back on the rides, contrary to his mother's advice.
Helms Visit
There's always so much fun to be had when the Helms family makes their annual stop at the farm.
Everyone had to take their turn getting baby snuggles.
Stockham BBQ
The Stockham BBQ was HOT this year. Macklin's vibe laying in the water was everyone's exact feeling. Poor newborn Carver babe wasn't sure what to think of the heat, but I retreated to the air conditioning often to cool us both down.
State Fair
We went. We saw. We did all the things.
That about sums it up.
Mahoney State Park
We had dentist appointments in Omaha in September and we made a stop at Mahoney on our way home.
We braved the wind and climbed to the top of the watchtower. It was a beautiful sight looking out over the river.
We went on a long hike and then spent an hour at the playground before heading back home. It was a great way to kick off fall.
Pumpkin Patch
When fall rolled in we met some friends at the pumpkin patch!
The day started out pretty chilly, but it didn't take long for the sun to come out and the coats to come off.
I bought a wagon stroller for Carver for Christmas. (I mean what do you actually get a fourth baby for Christmas?) I decided to break it out early for the pumpkin patch and it paid off. Carver and Mack could both ride when Macklin needed a break, and Carver was able to nap the day away as I chased the big kids around. If you're a parent of young kids, I highly suggest going wagon stroller route instead of a double stroller.
It was a really fun day with great donuts, lots a laughing, filthy children, and memories made. Homeschooling at its finest.
Other Highlights
Kicking it back to random summer and fall memories.
The best moments almost always include babies, water, or food. Try to prove me wrong.
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| Carver's first time to get wings in Grafton - a monumental moment in his life. |
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| Carver's first Husker game! The toddler refused the photo. |
I helped host a baby shower for my sister in September. I spoke for it and made it though without an onslaught of tears, but I definitely had to excuse myself to the restroom right after to "recompose" myself. I was postpartum and was talking about the beauty of babies and the mission of motherhood, so I was bound to get emotional.
I've enjoyed baking so much more in the new kitchen, so when we celebrated my Mom's birthday in September, I offered to make the cake. I made a sticky toffee cake. My caramel drizzle didn't drizzle properly, but it sure tasted good.
My baking has gotten out of hand. I started with an Amish Friendship Bread which I kept up for a couple months, but once harvest was over I was ready to take it to the big leagues. I received some sourdough starter from a friend and it has been love at first bite ever since. I've baked dozens of loaves in the last 6 weeks.
My new love for being in the kitchen has everything to do with living without a kitchen last winter and now having this really special space that I am appreciating with each mess I get to make and clean up. My food creations have mirrored my kitchen. I made junk when our drawer fronts were falling off, but I'm making beautiful things now that there's a pot filler and pendant lights. The beauty surrounding me has totally sparked a fire that I didn't know I would ever have. And my family is benefitting from it. James isn't even sure who I am anymore, but he is not complaining in the least bit.
Farming
The farming season has come to a close. It's been a busy year, but thankful to have grain in the bins.
Checking the rain gauge early in the season.
Irrigating and morning farm chats.
We knew Mack had a special love for the farm, but this summer it was elevated to the next level. I think irrigating is his love language.
Carver's first time farming! All six of us riding in the combine during bean harvest. It lasted about as long as you would expect.
Supper drop-offs in the field, which sometimes turn into Mack drop-offs too.
Myla got in on drilling the wheat. She was pretty proud that she got to "push the buttons."
Trev ran the harrow this fall for a few days. He really enjoyed his time in the tractor cab. He got to check in with James on the radio and I'm told he's quite a farmer-in-the-making. One Saturday he listened to a random college football game on the radio and when he got home he asked if I had watched the Georgia game. I had, so we talked football after his long day in the tractor. In an instant my 10-year-old turned 55. The next time he went out to harrow I asked if he wanted a thermos of coffee. He declined. It's really something watching him grow.
Bean harvest is completed. The fields are disked and wheat is planted for next year. Popcorn harvest has also been finished up. The 2022 farming season is a wrap.
Halloween
We had four trick-or-treaters this year! Trevin and Macklin were knights, Myla was the princess, and Carver was a very docile dragon.
Although the cute dragon didn't cause any trouble, the knights went rogue and started to attack the princess they once vowed to rescue. Oh the horror!
It was fun getting to make an extra stop in Stockham this year to see Ashton!
House Remodel
With harvest wrapped up, we've been tackling the last of the house project! There was basically no movement in the farming months. Only a few things happened this summer/fall. James put drywall up over the vent hood surround. It's ready for plaster!
Another long-awaited thing was our new dishwasher finally arrived! It came in July and eventually had the panel installed (not pictured) to the front. We also had the crown molding and toe kicks installed this fall. The past 6 months have been very uneventful, but so much has happened in the last few weeks. It's been over a year since we started the project. It'll feel so good to get it completely finished and back to normal.
Our barstools arrived in October after ordering them in April. We've eaten 90% of our meals at the island since they've come. I've never lived with barstools at an island, so I really didn't know how often they would get used. Apparently, we're big fans.
Due to some hail damage, we started some exterior remodeling! New shingles went on first, next we'll replace the wood in the peaks, new gutters and soffit. Changes all around.
Back inside we finished the pantry door. These were broken closet doors that we got for free. Pulled out the broken slats on the top, painted it, and added caning to the openings. Not bad for some free broken doors.
Our open shelving was installed in our kitchen!
Laundry room cabinets and shelving - the rest of the matching hardware is on its way!
It took a lot of time, but the trim is completed! Trevin and I need to go around and fill and paint nail holes, but I'm going to leave that for another year. (Let's hope it's 2023.)
We added a little extra character to the fireplace wall and entryway wall.
It's these finishing things that really make it feel like home.
James also finished bricking the back landing. It's crucial to have something super durable because this landing sees all the dirt, rocks, sand, and water.
The current project is finishing up the fireplace and range hood. We're experimenting with the plaster to figure out exactly how we want to do it.
The final projects are the built-in bookcase, the laundry room door, and the bathroom. Once those are completed, I hope to do a final house renovation post with all of the finishing touches.
School
We jumped into school in August.
Trev - 5th Grade
Myla - 1st Grade
Mack - whatever he wants to do
Do you know how easy it is to get a picture with a 2-year-old? Let me show you.
Trevin is flying solo through most of his curriculum and it's been such a smooth start to the year.
Myla is reading now, so if I'm distracted with a baby or toddler, I'll find her reading the instructions and doing the activities she knows how to do. She really does love learning.
It's actually been so nice having our office in the schoolroom now. Trevin is able to type his essays or watch his math videos right there without having to hunt down the iPad.
I'm hoping to do "fun" school trips more regularly this year. One Friday we took the kids to the IMAX and watched a movie about Ireland. I'm thankful we were the only ones in the theater at 2:00 on a Friday afternoon, because Macklin lacks common courtesy.
And like any good school-age family, we spent our Friday night at a high school football game watching my nephews play.
Macklin stays plenty busy during the school hours. Usually painting, coloring, playing with toys, doing puzzles, play-doh, kinetic sand, watching a show, screaming, begging for a snack, hitting someone, or passing out. We are working on some colors and trying to learn how to write the letter M. He tags along with James any chance he gets because he has serious farm FOMO.
I opted for an online history course this year for the kids. I knew with a newborn and a toddler that I would have to lean on some convenience. It's been a good decision and it gives me the opportunity to get lunch on while they learn about ancient Egypt and the Old Testament.
The kids have also been "playing library" thanks to Bluey. It's the perfect quiet game and I'm here for it.
I had several people express how shocked they were that I started school with a 1 month old baby. I told them that he's way easier now than he will be in April, so we might as well get a good start!
We're over half of the way done with the school year. We're in the middle of Christmas break, but I'm guessing we'll get rolling again the second week of January.
Palatine
It had been three years since we'd last visited the Helms family in the Chicago suburbs. I was pregnant with Macklin, so we doubled our kiddos that we brought along this time!
To say I was anxious about the 9 hour drive, would be accurate. Macklin isn't always the friendliest traveler and a road trip with a new baby sounds risky. We left at 5:30 AM in hopes that the kids could fall back asleep and pass the first several hours quickly. Mack fell asleep by the time we hit Lincoln, but Carver stayed awake past Omaha. We managed to reach Des Moines before we made our first stop and I was thoroughly impressed with how well everyone was doing.
All was very well until the last hour of the trip when Macklin woke up from a second nap with a kink in his neck from the carseat. He was so uncomfortable. He couldn't hold his head straight. I crawled to the back to help massage the knot in his neck. About half-hour later, Myla started to feel carsick, right as we were getting into heavy traffic. Then Carver started screaming. I was in the back seat between Macklin and Myla, massaging Mack's neck with one hand and holding Myla's hair with the other as she threw up into a bag, and trying to hand Carver toys and make eye contact with him whenever I had the chance. James was white-knuckling the steering wheel facing Chicago traffic, and Trevin darted from the back into the front seat at the first sign of vomit. Then my gag reflux started flexing, proving once again that I am not the puke parent. Those last thirty minutes of the drive have scarred me forever. I will never be the same. I'd like to say I am stronger for it, but I'm not. It gave me some grays and took every bit of calm I had left as a mom. But I am a survivor.
I'm glad to report that the trip was worth the memories we made in Palatine.
We took the train to breakfast one morning - something we don't typically do in Hamilton County.
Macklin ended up with more powdered sugar on his face than there was on the pastry.
We went downtown one day to go to the aquarium. This is part of every visit we make to Chicago. It's been fun to see Trevin remember different exhibits or say, "Remember last time when we..."
It's been tradition for us to see the Christmas 4D movie at the aquarium, so we watched the condensed version of Polar Express. Carver was a little unsure about all the noise and shaking, but he was a trooper.
We also ventured out to the circus! We had never been to the circus before, so it was a new experience for all of us. Some of the acts were seriously remarkable. The highlight of the weekend for Myla was getting her face painted.
As fun as those excursions were, some of the best moments were spent at the house.
The Helms family spoiled us with the best food and the best laughs. Memories that are always so cherished. I'm hoping we don't have to double the amount of kids we have before we go back again.
Christmas
We're on year two of what feels like a nontraditional Christmas. Last year we were living in the basement, and then the entire basement flooded on December 23 and we came down with a brutal stomach flu on December 26. We're still traumatized from that week. This year we feel much more established, but in some areas we're not quite settled. James has been working on the main floor still, so our Christmas tree was about all that happened upstairs. Our old tree was expired (my diagnosis) and then it was involved in the flooding from last year, so we ended up pitching it. I had intended on buying a new one, but James wanted to try a real tree this year instead. He and the boys went and chopped the top off of a tree on our farm and had it waiting for Myla, Carver, and I when we got home from grocery shopping one day. It's been fun to have a real tree. And it has definitely lasted, despite what people were telling me about setting it up before Thanksgiving. I think I could even put it up on November 1 and we'd make it just fine. You can call me a rebel; I'll wear that badge with pride.
I surprised the kids with a train for the base of the tree and it's been a hit. Learn from my mistake and make sure yours has a volume switch so you don't have to listen to a choo choo train for hours. It has provided lots of entertainment for the kids, though.
Our church Christmas program was so fun. It's the first year I've had four kids to watch take the stage. I felt like my eyes kept bouncing from kid to kid, trying to take it all in.
Macklin didn't do a lot of singing on the stage, even though he knows the songs by heart which he's proven at home over and over again. We did have a panic moment though, when Mack tripped and fell on his way down the aisle. He started crying and ran to find James. Thankfully, we got him back to his teacher and he put on a brave face and followed his class onto the stage.
They asked if Carver would play Baby Jesus for the program. I figured he'd make it through a song and then I'd grab him back, but the kid knew it was his time to shine and he sat so quiet and content for the rest of the program. I don't know that my other babies could have ever done that, but Carver is the happiest baby that I've ever met.
The Christmas festivities continued with the large family gatherings!
Scotty is not a baby person. Like at all. But he gladly grabbed Carver for a photo with Grandpa and Grandma. Carver has some serious baby magic. It was a Christmas miracle!
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Also, please notice that Macklin has forever claimed his spot on the throne of Grandma's lap. Even when there's a bunch of babies that need to be held, he finds his way onto her lap. He does not love to share her with all of his cousins.
And so begins our new Christmas tradition of illness. Mack and Carver came down with colds last week, followed by Myla getting the stomach flu mid-week. Mack, not to be outdone by anyone, joined in the vomiting at the end of the week. James went down with the cold over the weekend, and wouldn't you know it, Trevin threw up last night. CAN WE BE DONE PLEASE. I think I've had one full night's sleep in over a week.
Even though no one was feeling 100%, we still managed to celebrate Christmas together and clocked in some extra movies. Thankfully this was our dead week between all the holiday gatherings, so we didn't have to cancel anything. Christmas with our parents and siblings are both next week, assuming we aren't sick for the rest of our lives.
The kids exchanged gifts with each other this year, and it was fun to see them get excited about giving and not just getting.
Legos are always a perfect go-to gift for anyone.
Myla was most excited to open up a new electric piano. She's been begging to take lessons, so she could hardly contain her excitement. I'm most excited about it having a power button and a volume knob, because we have a lot of children living here now.
We had our traditional abelskievers and Christmas charcuterie. But we mostly ate from the massive pot of soup that I made to help settle the stomachs and sooth the coughs.
Carver's first Christmas
It may have gotten a little hairy, but this Christmas was still merry.
Trevin
This kid is a total goof ball. He's always keeping us on our toes with his quick jokes. But if I have to hear the pink golf ball story one more time, so help me.
He's still playing his guitar, building Legos, and always willing to load the wood cart for the fireplace. He clocked in a bunch of farm hours this summer and fall. He mowed for Grandpa and Mimi and all around the farm. He helped on the roguing crew and really established himself as one of the experienced roguers. James put him to work in the shop, too. He's really loving having a baby around the house again, but like I said, Carver is magic.
Myla
I promise James doesn't just sleep when he's home. I'm realizing he's sleeping in a lot of pictures. Usually it's a Sunday afternoon and he's snuggled up with a kid. And I probably take a picture every single time.
Myla officially joined the first-grade club by losing her first tooth! She actually lost her first two teeth on the same day at Grandpa and Grandma's house. She's got another wiggly one, so they're coming out fast now.
Sis is growing before our very eyes and I still picture her being the cute, bubbly, tiny 2-year-old, but am shocked every day by how big she is. She has the best laugh and she can't stop once she gets going.
Myla loves having time with friends and is always happy to share her toys with anyone that comes to visit.
She's glad to help and has found a new love for cleaning, which I am very psyched about.
Macklin
That brings us to this firecracker.
Mack spent countless hours farming this summer and fall. When I had Carver, irrigating was in full-swing. Every morning Mack and James were the first ones up and they were out the door with the sun to get a jump on the water while it was still cool in the day. Macklin was in heaven. It did make for a hard transition when irrigating season was over and he couldn't tag along as easily. He makes every effort to tagalong with James whenever he laces up his boots. He's a big fan of the farm.
One day he was watching James in the field out our living room window. I heard him say, "Dad's driving the bobcat." Then he instantly stopped himself and corrected, and said, "No. Cat tractor." He definitely knows the difference and was sure to fix his mistake.
He's had a funny phase with names the last few months. Carver is still almost always "Baby Carver Stockham" and sometimes Trevin is "Uncle T." He started calling James by his first name and then it morphed into "James Paul" or "James Dad," which naturally made me "James Mom." He's entered into the name-calling phase, too, unfortunately. His most used insult is calling people meanies. On more than one occasion, he has fallen or gotten hurt, and whoever tries to come to his rescue is met with, "You're mean!" Charming.
We call him the sock bandit because he is always and forever stealing Carver's socks right off of his feet. He'll make a quick grab and then run away giggling as hard as ever. He is pure ornery. So if you see our poor fourth-born without socks on this winter, please know that they are likely lost to a certain two-year-old.
My favorite phrase right now is when he's not feeling well he says, "My feelings are hurting" or "My feelings aren't feeling good." It's adorable.
He also can be caught bobbing for food on his plate while we pray for our meal.
One day he couldn't remember the name of the movie Frozen, so he referred to it as "Cold." I've called it Cold ever since.
We haven't officially started potty training yet, but it's quickly approaching. I had no intention of doing it before Carver was born. But then I knew I needed to wait until after harvest, because I was solo-parenting four kiddos and it just wasn't the time. But then we planned our Chicago trip and I thought it would be dumb to start him right before that. But then we got back from Chicago, and it's really busy with all the extra Christmas gatherings and celebrations, so JANUARY IT IS.
Even though we haven't officially started, we've been introducing the concept and giving opportunity for him to try every now and then. James had Mack try to pee in the field one day - Mack stood there and yelled “It’s not working!”
It's pretty obvious when he's trying for #2, so I've caught him and set him on the potty. He fought me pretty good the first time. After he finally gave it and had success, my dad was asking him about it the next time he saw him. Macklin's response was, "I'm never doing that again!" But I proved him wrong and he's been consistently going #2 on the toilet. Undies are coming for him next month, ready or not. (Me, not him. He's ready. I might not be.)
Mack is still our early-riser. After irrigating, I had to figure out a way to keep him in his bed until at least 6 AM. (That should't be too much to ask, right?) We tried out Myla's alarm clock for him; it's one that has a light turn on when it's time to wake up. That has been a life-saver. We've been able to bump it back to 6:30 AM and it's been pretty successful.
Oh, to be two again. He's a wild ride, but man, I adore him.
Carver
It's been a big couple of months for Carver!
He loves his mama, but his thumb comes in a close second. Sometimes, he even needs both thumbs!
I think he was my latest consistent roller, but he's starting to roll several times and I've got to keep an eye on him when I lay him down. He's usually pretty quiet, but when he gets to jabbering, he's unstoppable. Usually that happens right in the middle of my Bible study at church. Even still, his crying is so minimal. He doesn't cry unless it's really really serious.
He's naturally content, happy, and adorable. He just goes along for the ride. He caught his first cold, thanks to an unnamed brother that coughed in his face several times. That threw him off just a bit, but he mostly just smiled through it. He flashes the biggest smile as soon as I make eye contact with him.
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| 4 months |
He's been sleeping through the night for a long while. I'm still waking him up for a dream feed, but typically he's down for night around 7:00 PM and up around 6:30 AM. He sleeps longer than Macklin. He's taking 3 naps each day.
He's still a great nurser and has taken a bottle a couple times from James when I've needed to leave him. He's passed the five-month mark, so somehow foods are right around the corner. I can't believe how fast this is going, but every day I say that today's Carver is my favorite Carver.
5 months
My sweet little babe. One year ago we just found out about him in the most surprising way, unable to fathom what life would be like. What a miraculous gift he has been. A healing to our hurting souls.
These days are filled with giggles and sweet moments, and plenty of fighting and tears, too.
I think the more kids I have the more chill I have, because I have to. I'm finding ways to make the most of these really special, tiresome, irreplaceable years. The verse I shared with Ashton at her baby shower was 2 Corinthians 12:15, Paul tells the church at Corinth, "I will most gladly spend and be spent for the sake of your souls." This is my anthem as a mom in this season. The thought that grounds me on the hard days and encourages me in the sleepless nights. I will most gladly spend and be spent for the sake of their souls. A million times over.
Sourdough is growing on the farm...
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