Thanks for sharing your picture, Taylor! This little guy loves the equipment!!!

Sitting here waiting for my fingers to move and my mind to shift gears to writing is the reason I fail at keeping a journal. It’s not the writing that I fail at – it’s the getting behind and trying to catch up. When this happens, I become overwhelmed with the amount of time that has passed and then I just don’t even want to do it. Once I’m caught up again, I tell myself I’m not going to let that happen again. Guess what…I generally do let it happen again.  I’ll start catching you up and if need be, I’ll just have to make it a continuing story. Otherwise, I’m certain you’ll lose interest.

We finally got really busy the week Jamie & Jenna showed up. Figures, right! The rain showers that we were receiving almost daily did allow me to have one full day with the kids and we decided to go to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (more on this later). Every afternoon, like clock-work, the showers moved in. It would rain just enough to shut us down and then the next day we would have a late start. As the girls would be getting their morning under control and beginning to do something fun, Jim and I would have to head to the field. This was good and bad. At least they were able to come hang out in the field for a while and I was able to get some time with everyone in the morning.

A little “Gaw” time with Mr. Eli and Miss Nora.

For a couple of nights, I was able to lay in bed with Eli and read books before he would go to sleep. It. Was. The. BEST!

Time with Nora wasn’t as often just cuz she really likes her mama right now!

A dirt pile, a cup and boys to play with…

Auntie Jen trying to manhandle the little guy. 

Jamie, Jenna, Eli and Nora came out on Saturday. They brought their own Cottage on Wheels and parked next to us. Curt was to fly out on Thursday only he missed his family too much and upped the date of departure to Tuesday. So, while we were in the field cutting Tuesday afternoon, the rest of the gang went to the Denver airport and picked him up. That afternoon, we got enough rain that it would keep us out of the field for a day. What did we do? We went to the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs. If you’re ever in the neighborhood of Colorado Springs and you’re looking for something to do, I would highly advise the zoo. I love the Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo, BUT…this is one that may become my favorite to visit. It was recently voted one of the top 10 zoos in the nation…#6.  Have you ever got to pet a giraffe? You can at this zoo!

The zoo overlooks Colorado Springs. I think if we looked hard enough, we could see the Beast on the horizon.

Eli and “Coco”

The heat and the elevation was taking a toll on these flatlanders! Curt treated us all to a “Dippin Dots” break. It was just what we needed to press on.

As the last hoorah of the day, we took the chairlift over the park and up the mountain. As you can see from the next picture, Jamie was not enjoying her ride. Miss Nora was wanting to straighten her body and kick against the bar. I can understand her concern. It was a loooooooong ways down!

When we got back in the field again, Eli was in heaven! He loved all of the machinery and was able to ride in the Beast and in the tractor with Wes. He didn’t know where he wanted to be most of the time – in all of them at the same time! Jenna and Eli jumped in the Beast and rode for a while…until he saw the tractor. Then it was a different story! Then he and Jen had to take a tour in the big green tractor. Thanks, Jenna, for capturing the moments!

The family would gather together for the evening meal – all of the family. When I say “all”, I mean the entire group. There must have been about 100 of us. 🙂 This was the one time of the day everyone would get together, pray over the meal and then enjoy each other’s company for a little while. As soon as the combine operators were finished (and the tractor driver, Wes), it was back to work!

So, it was decided that while we were all together, we’d get a family picture in the wheat field. We’ve not done that in a very long time…if ever. We were missing the Rathe family, though, and were wishing they were with us! On this particular day, my brother, Matt, and Tina surprised us at the field. So, he is responsible for taking these pictures for us. Thanks, Matt! You did a great job…once again!

And…of course…our annual All Aboard Wheat Harvest photo. For both of these being at the end of the day, they turned out pretty good. And the reason I mention the end of the day is because Jim and I had been in the field all day – both days. So, considering neither of us had any time to prepare, they look about as good as they could! I’m so very proud of what we’ve “built”. It’s not always easy and it’s not always fun, but in the end…we’re family and we’ll always have each other’s back! God has blessed us beyond my wildest imagination.

As with everything…all good things must come to an end. The week was over and they had to go home – much to my dislike! The tears came easy and it took most of the rest of the day to get out of my “funk”. But, I’m so glad they came and we got to share the days together.

These were taken the morning they had to leave.

Back home again – in the heat and humidity that Eastern Nebraska dishes out! See ya when we get home!!!!