Let's Get Busy...

...It is for a GOOD CAUSE!


My best friend, Kylee, most of you know her, could use our help. Her husband's brother, Jeremy, has been fighting a cancer called lymphoma for the last four years. This is a very aggressive cancer, and the mere fact that he is alive is a miracle in itself. As you know, fighting cancer doesn't come cheap! This year Jeremy's wife is putting together a booth at the Country Christmas, they will be selling donations to try to raise some money to help with their medical expenses.

This is where WE ALL come in...

I know there are a LOT of talented people that read my blog. So if you are reading this and you could decorate some slamm'n cupcakes, (uh hum Chrissy) or dolly up some cute hair bows (that's you Brooke, and Jamie:) Or let's say you are one of those people who can do just about anything when it comes to a good cause. Let's do what we can, those of you who are out of town, you might be able to crank out a homemade card or two and pop it in the mail. Whatever you can come up with would be GREAT!!!

We don't have much time...

Country Christmas is on December 5th from 9am to 7pm.

Here is a sneek peek at what I am working on...





By the way...those of you who are getting started selling your FABULOUS talents, this could be great advertising...make up a few business cards, and Laura can pass them out with your products...just a thought!

I think most of you know how to get a hold of me...but if you don't leave me a comment and I will get a hold of you...THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!!

A spoonful of *~*SPARK*~* helps the medicine go down...

IN THE MOST DELIGHTFUL WAY!!!

This past weekend I went to a creative event inspired by this quote...

The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the soul. No matter our talents, education, backgrounds or abilities, we each have an inherent wish to create something that did not exist before. Everyone can create. WHAT YOU CREATE DOESN'T HAVE TO BE PERFECT. DO NOT LET FEAR OF FAILURE DISCOURAGE YOU. Don't let the voice of critics paralyze you whether that voice comes from the outside or the inside. Dieter F. Uchtdorf

The best way I can describe it is THERAPY, and you can see why...










....special note....I did not take any of these pictures...I "borrowed" them from blogs of other ladies that went and were not frozen in awe of the decorations...thanks Girlies!!!

Knots on a Counting Rope

The last few weeks we have been getting cattle hauled in to winter on our pasture. The first day the cows came Weston was his Daddy's big helper and as they unloaded the semi trucks Weston counted the cows. Every time a bull came out of the trailer, Grandma Kim taught Weston to tie a knot in a piece of binder twine. Ever since, Weston has kept careful track of his cow counting rope and he struggles with all his might to tie a knot in it every once in a while. He has really taken this cow thing very seriously, and feels a deep sense of responsibility to his Bulls. He talks about them all the time. He makes sure the loading shoot is ready to go and he is fascinated by the ramps in the trailer. He is one careful cowboy! Today, the kids and I were headed over to help Brent with another semi load, it was about nap time so the kids were getting sleepy, but Weston patrolled the back seat to be sure no one fell asleep. He doesn't want anyone to miss anything when it comes to the cows.

Watching the cows unload...Weston
...Maci
...Wyatt

Halloween Fun!

Before Halloween is too far gone, I figured I better post some pictures of the kids in their costumes...

First allow me to indroduce the arnriest pirate that ever lived...
Mister Captain Hook!He would not wear his hook for the picture.



And the only worthy counter part to a pirate this cute is our very own Pan man...Peter Pan Himself!
he is gonna make a great golf'n buddy Grandma Lori!

And last but not least the Prettiest little Witch the West has ever seen!!!
She started out very shy...

But before too long we saw her beautiful smile shine!

We went to a Halloween Carnival that the college put on, and it was really Great! They had booths set up with different activities from around the world. They had Halloween cupcake and cookie decorating, pumpkin and potatoe, and turnip painting, a fishing game, face painting, story telling and a photo booth! I was so much fun, the kids loved it and I really appreciated how much work the students went to to get things set up so nicely, and they were so sweet to the kids! It was by far the funnest Halloween carnival we have ever been to!
After the carnival we headed out to trick-or-treat at Grandma and Grandpa Lennon's...
We stopped in at Nana and Papa's...but I did not take any pictures there..oops! Then it was onto finish up our night with a stop at Grandma Kim and Poppy's. Since we had forgotten all about dinner in the hustle to get costumes on Grandma Kim graciously fed the troops...Thanks Grandma Kim for getting something besides sugar in our bellies! These are pictures we took at their house...you can see how well the mustache held up...not so much!

Look out...it is gett'n deep in here!

Last week I took all three kidd~os into the doctor's office for Wyatt's well baby check and a few immunizations. simple right? I was picking Dr.Bohlman's brain about the swine flu vaccine when he basically told me we will likely get the swine flu a lot sooner than we will qualify for the vaccination. Great, thanks! With our chances of getting the swine flu vaccination looking very slim, the doctor pressured me into getting the kids the regular flu shot, I say pressured, because believe me the last thing I wanted to endure was watching all three of my kids get a shot...did I mention I HATE watching my kids get shots? Anyway, Wyatt did not have much of a choice in the matter, so we went right for it, and got his shots over with. Weston and Maci had to get checked in at the desk before they could get their shots, Weston wimpered, whined and begged not to get a shot the whole time. Maci was cheerful and excited, she kept saying, "I'll be brave, just like I'm brave when I want to ride a sheep." I kept reassuring them both and praising Maci for her bravery, but I was a mess inside...did I mention I HATE watching my kids get shots?

Anyway, sure enough, Maci climbed right up on the table and pulled down her leggings eager for her "turn" to get a shot. But regardless of how excited she was, that did not change the fact that the shot HURT! Sure enough, by the way she flenched, and the look in her eye I could tell it hurt, but she put on a brave face and did not cry.

Weston cried before the shot, during the shot and for thirty minutes after the shot!

It was evident from Weston's reaction that the shot was uncomfortable to say the least, but Maci gritted her teeth and refused to wimper. That's my girl...I was so proud of her, I praised her and we told everyone we ran into for the rest of the day what tough little cookie she was...yep that's my girl.

Then it hit me...she is just like me sometimes. In this case though, I feel for her and I am going to do whatever it takes to teach her that it is okay to cry. No, she does not have to go around whining, but when life hurts, you don't have to put on a brave face for your mom Maci, it is okay to cry to me.

Sometimes I worry that I am numb.

My brave face is tired.

Some of you might be aware that this year has been more than just a little rough for our family. Most of you are not. We are in the thick of lawsuit. A lawsuit that could ruin us financially. Through the entire process I have learned how very little money actually means to me, but it doesn't change the fact that this whole process just drains me emotionally. I have been resolved to hold back. But here is the truth, the pain is real, and it is raw.

Now I'm sobbing...

Here is the thing, I am surrounded by people who care and who love me so much, but I don't let them in. Because one hug might make a tear slip. I don't like feeling vulnerable.

Maci, don't do this to yourself. I would not have loved you any less if you had cried all the way home.













For drama, I should just leave it at that. But I can't. I have to tell you that every day I count my blessings. I love my husband. I love my kids. They are what keep me smiling and I truely believe what doesn't kill us makes us stronger. My testimony keeps everything in prespective.



I promise the next post will be bright and cheery and have lots of pictures!!!

Bobby and Suzie

Anyone who spends more than twenty minutes around Brent and I will notice that we do not call each other Brent and Larissa...our terms of endearment for each other are Bobby and Suzie. Sooo, WHY???

In my family, growing up, we all called eachother Vern...because we were big fans of Ernest. This fasinated Brent when we were dating, so he got right on board with that and for the three years we dated we called eachother Vern.

Then, a year after we got married, we spent the summer in Wisconsin. We met lots of new friends there, who seemed puzzled by our choice of nick names, and were often confused because we had the SAME nick name, so to keep things straight, they decided to start calling Brent Bobby, and me Suzie.

So what did Bobby and Suzie spend their summer in Wisconsin doing?

We spent our days going on horseback rides through lush green groves of trees, and spacious meadows.

We spent our evenings with friends, having dinner and practicing team roping.

We spent our weekends on the road, roping in one jack pot after another.

Everyday an adventure, everynight a dream...

We sucked the life out of that summer, it was nothing short of magical!

So, now you know, before we were Mom and Dad, Officer LaPierre, Sister LaPierre, before we were frazzled and tested, before we were a housewife and a farmer, before we were scared and responsibility laden...

We were young, crazy, flirty, risky, free, sturdy, sassy, casual, whimsical, romantic, rustic, and glamorous...

So these days when I have snot on my shoulder, and the only reason my hair is done is because my three year old styled it for me, and I'm overwhelmed by the list of things to do that I have subjected myself to...Bobby comes through the door and gives Suzie a hug, and for just a minute I remember how it feels...

Long live Bobby and Suzie!!!

Speaking of John Deere hats...

Wyatt was just doing a load of dishes...When his big brother comes along and plops his John Deere hat on him!



Wyatt is such a good sport!!!