Memphis is a little pilot. He has a love for airplanes and talks about them everyday. The highlight for Memphis on our recent trip to San Antonio was flying on the airplane and getting to play in the toy airplane at the Children's Museum. Here is Memphis in the "cockpit" of the plane at the Children's Museum. He did not want to leave, tears were shed.

Memphis also believes that everyone and everything wants to go for a ride in airplane. Last night we were playing with the baby kitties that live under our front porch. He heard an airplane in the distance and asked "Can the kitties go on the airplane too?" What do you say to that? I told him cats are afraid to fly.

Yard Work

Yesterday Memphis and I did some landscaping in the yard. He was such a BIG BOY, using his shovel to help me dig holes and helping pull the weeds. I had to do some grass trimming around rocks with my hand shearers. Memphis wanted to have the shearers, but safety prevailed. He then insisted on going inside. He returned with his play pliers in tow, and used them as his own 'hand shearers' for grass trimming. It was priceless to see him grab a blade of grass and pull it out of the ground with his pliers!
What a fun evening.

Dress Making 101

I enjoy sewing, but haven't made clothing since my days in 4-H.

I bought this fabric over a year ago, with the intent to make little girl dresses with it. I think the dresses are adorable, and I plan on making more.


I am giving these to a friend I work with at the hospital and I am working on a pair of pants for Memphis (they have airplanes on them, of course)!

Snow, Snow, Snow

Thirteen inches, to be exact. I am wondering where spring is, and if it will make it to South Dakota. We are expecting another winter storm on Saturday, right now the question is will it be cold rain or more snow...

Memphis went to the doctor today and heavy bronchitis/walking pneumonia is what we're dealing with at our household. Taking him to the doc was a joy, he was not feeling well, so he cried about getting weighed (we all have issues with the scales I guess) and about getting his temp taken (evidently under the arm temperature readings are painful).

Needless to say, Memphis did not get to enjoy the snow. He did get to walk in it while getting in the pickup. His biggest concern? The bit of snow that made it onto his finger, he did not want it on there. It took me a couple of minutes to figure out what was wrong, and once the snow was off, all was well with Memphis.

I did take a picture of Memphis this morning, as I was getting some shots of the snow. He smiled nicely and said cheese, only because he knew he would get to see his photo on the camera if he held still...bribery is the best.

Sweetest Moments

We had a great time Saturday night with family for Memphis's birthday. Great Grandpa and Grandma Gilman, Grandpa and Grandma Peterson and Chisum, Cindy, Delaney and Kendall came over for fun and food.

The highlight for me was not watching Memphis soak up the attention or gape as he opened presents. The best part for me was watching cousins interact...seeing friends make memories.

Memphis and Kendall had a great time together. Memphis is getting better about sharing and he enjoys playing with his cousins. Delaney can do no wrong in his eyes....someday soon that will come to an end too. She'll be the big shot and I can see Memphis and Kendall plotting their next antic.

Delaney's homemade birthday card for Memphis was so sweet. I have to find a special place to keep it, because I remember how special it was for me as I got older to look back at things I made. My Grandma Wanda had a special box in her closet filled with cards and drawings all of her grandkids made. I loved looking at those when I was about 10 or 11, it was so much fun.
I can't believe Delaney's old enough to write such special things.

Front of the card...Inside message....

so sweet...

Happy Second Birthday

Memphis's second birthday was today, I find myself wondering where the time has gone.
Now, instead of being the baby, he wants to help take care of the babies. Although, I still sometimes catch him laying in his Daddy's arms and insisting that Cade hold the sippy cup while he drinks.

We started the morning off with birthday day chocolate chip pancakes. He really got a kick out of the candles and the two little Hershey's Kisses I put next to the pancakes as an extra special treat.

He finally realizes there is something up with this birthday talk. I think it's all the presents that have been showing up.
Memphis got mail from Grandma Susan yesterday and he knew immediately the package was from her. The toy airport she got him is a favorite, and he had to sleep with the airplane and helicopter that come with the set.

He got a wooden kitchen from Cade and I. Cade put it together in the basement and brought it up after Memphis woke up from his afternoon nap. It's a hit. Memphis was cooking in the oven, on the stove and in the microwave. He told me he was making soup.

Spring Fever

It was 60 degrees today and beautiful. Memphis and I both were itching to get outside when we got home.

We ended up riding around with Daddy on the Ranger and looking at the babies...baby calves that is. Memphis enjoys driving the Ranger and again, 'honking the horn.' I think we need to find a vehicle that has a horn for him, because, just like the tractor, the Ranger is without.

Memphis tells us that it's not his birthday this week, we must have it confused with someone else. I made the Happy Birthday banner tonight and we practiced singing Happy Birthday To You. Memphis, though he would say Happy Birthday, insisted that it was Mommies Birthday, not his.

Outside Shots

Memphis and I also went outside yesterday and braved the chilly weather for fresh air and laughs.







I took the camera along, thinking I would get some nice pictures of him, but ended up with interesting shots outside...the lighting was perfect.
I especially like the old orange table, spare parts and water hydrant.

The pond behind our house was still frozen over, despite the sun shining, the shadows on the ice create an interesting effect.

Riding the Tractor

I love watching Memphis grow up right before my eyes. It amazes me how quickly he has gone from barely being able to tell us what we wants, to full on saying "Mommy come play." In two years he has grown up to be a very busy toddler.
Just this week we went outside with Daddy to feed cows in the tractor. The entire time Memphis was frustrated with one thing...the horn (or lack thereof) in the tractor. Sure he enjoyed the cows and the feed wagon, but he kept insisting that we "honk the horn."

He's also learning what the camera does and now 'smiles' for it....you would think this would make photo taking easier, but in fact, it makes it more challenging. Now he poses in silly ways all the while saying 'cheese.'

Flu Bug

What a weekend. I have to say, that the winter months are never kind to Memphis. He seems to seldom catch a break from the sniffles or the flu. He fell victim to the latter last night. Nothing like a enjoying lasagna on a Saturday night, with your mother, father, aunt and uncle in law when suddenly you have concern about your child. I thought he'd swallowed something at first, as he kept gagging. He didn't swallow something, he was just sick and proceeded to throw up all over the kitchen floor at Grandma's house during supper. I did feel bad for the dinner guests, but I was thankful it was just the flu.
It was a rough night, he was sick until about 3 am and all he wants is to drink any liquid we give him in huge gulps. Try to explain to a 23 month old how to drink slowly!
I do have to say, I was so proud of Memphis, as he has now learned how to sit up and wait for the bucket before he get's sick. I know it's disgusting, but it makes a huge difference in clean up.

The flu's been making it's rounds in town, hopefully it will be limited to Memphis. I don't think Cade or I want to share in this experience.

First steps...

I've decided you have to start somewhere. I have family and friends spread out all over the place, and sometimes it's a challenge to keep up. Sure, there's Facebook, Myspace, email, phone, and webcams, but still I somehow manage to get out of touch with people.
As I type this, I am thinking, that a blog probably isn't going to fix this problem either, it might add to it!
Here we are, we live here. Where? Pukwana, South Dakota, even the spell check doesn't recognize Pukwana, that's your first clue as to where it is!
My husband ranches/farms with his father here and I arrived here via marriage. No, it wasn't mail order. We met in college and well, that's the end of it. We have 1 child, he's almost two.
I can't believe how time passes, 10 years since highschool, 7 since college, 6 since marriage, 2 since baby. I remember my grandparents telling me the older you got, the faster time flew. They weren't kidding.