whatever

class of 2013

well... she graduated.
we are VERY proud of her.
the ceremony was outdoors and the sky was so dark... even lightening in the distance.
it was nice to not be SO HOT but the weather was very iffy and made me nervous.
as soon as it ended the entire stadium emptied almost immediately.
it was raining shortly after. 

so we did not get photos of her afterward with friends or with her tassel,etc.
but we got this one really quick before the ceremony.
she got a new dress and looked so pretty! 

 

our party almost didn't happen because of the weather.
there was even a tornado 30 minutes away!
i said "well... it's not a TRUE Kansas party without a tornado watch"

she requested rainbow cake.
i hadn't made one in a few years.... remember when i first made it?
way back before they were EVERYWHERE.
BEFORE martha stewart.
granted martha's was very professional looking and perfect.
but mine is filled with a mama's love.
:)
perfection is not the goal. 

it was so fun to make it again.

we kept the snacks and drink very simple.
and credit to my boys... they helped me big time preparing the food.
they rocked yesterday!
it was "Duerksen Team Effort" for sure all week long.
that was a huge blessing we kept it simple since it POURED hard rain just before the party.
anything elaborate we would have done would've been ruined.






every party should have a baby.
it should be a rule.
so many of craig's family came by to wish lauren good luck in college and give her hugs.
one great thing about big milestones like graduations or weddings is seeing the family you don't see as often.

lauren with my mom and lauren with craig's mom.

it was so fun to have my friends show up to love on me as well as lauren. 
high school graduation is big deal for the kids but also a BIG DEAL for the parents too!
and they snuck off and were cleaning up in my kitchen and doing dishes when i wasn't looking.
grown up friends are the best! 

although... i prefer babies at parties that are not wearing K-State onesies.
he is so cute that i made an exception.
i was so busy that i never even got to hold this guy! lauren took over as baby holder for this party. 

 

 

family friends that we have had since i was 8 years old came to celebrate. 
(my dad did not get the memo about the black shirt...)

i LOVE that they came.
that is love ya know?  showing up for your people.   taking the time.  it is meaningful. 
it makes me teary.  

craig was face timing with his sister during the party.
:)
isn't that fun?  she got a little tour of the party and said hello.  
2013 is pretty awesome. 

i took an after photo this morning since it was too crazy yesterday.
our new little patio that we put in and all the pots of flowers make this place even happier.
it's so peaceful out there.
my chippy painted metal benches got new cushions. (home depot online)
i used all old pots, buckets and planters i already had to plant flowers inside.
the bunting is the same as what i sell in my shop...not weather proof but who cares.
it holds up just fine.

great party.

i think lauren felt loved.
and that was the most important part of yesterday for me.

 

and now i am going to go sit on that yellow bench.
:)

 

this week....

we have had a FULL week with more excitement still to come.

life skills being taught.... 

 

 

waffle was naughty and completely dorky as usual. 
he got on the couch while i was still home! 
how is he smart enough to know not to get on when craig is home and that i won't do anything?
it's crazy.
he slept with his leg up in the air for a long time.

ha ha haaaaaaa

 

read this in The Message this week....

"His love was not cautious but extravagant"  

 

the kids tried to dress up the chickens with american girl doll clothes.
but realized chickens don't have arms to make it work.
it was funny to try though. 

one of these days those chicks will be gone & we will know that they learned how to hot wire Barbie's car...

 

i like having lunch with my kids.
i wish i had done it with my older kids.
i didn't know that was a thing that people did.
your kids would love it if you showed up too. (with no other siblings... just you... and fast food) 

campfires are pretty much the best thing ever.
i have tried my best to keep all s'more ingredients stocked all all times at our house. 

mother's day was a very nice day.
i try very hard to keep expectations VERY low and that helps to keep the day flowing well.
i was treated to homemade cards by the little girls.... and cashed in that free coffee immediately. 

after church i went in my bedroom and shut the door and relaxed while my family made the entire lunch.
what a nice treat to come out to a completely set table AND food.

then i went straight back in my room while they cleaned it up. 

best mother's day i have had in many years. 

 

gardening this year in pots only....this is a huge relief to me.
the thought of gardening was LOOMING over me and i wasn't excited about it.
but this is perfect! 

 

lauren is done with high school.
forever.
it's so crazy how fast that passed!
we are so proud that she made it through with excellent grades and can't wait to see her future unfold.

her graduation is sunday afternoon.
it's been an emotional week....

 

this is what happens on a daily basis here.
if we don't do the dishes every 18-24 hours... it looks like this.
NO JOKE.
we even ate on paper plates that day!

 

 

i sported pigtails today.
after a 3 week break.... i went out for a run with my friends this morning.

it was short & sweet but felt so good to remember that i did still know how to run.  :)

as i drank my second cup of coffee i looked down and realized i was a rainbow of colors.

 

so... we have a very busy weekend filled with parties to attend & to give, basketball, shopping, cleaning, rainbow cake making, graduation cermony and grandparents coming.

what do you have going on in your life?

 

 

national geographic

first push play on this video and then enjoy photos of our two tiniest yellow chickens fighting.

:)

or whatever it is they are doing....

 

 

they never hurt each other...just playing.

i threw these in to show off her fluffy leg feathers.

she looks like she is wearing slippers.

do you have big mother's day plans?

i told my kids that i want the house to stay clean for an entire week.

i even bought a bunch of cleaning supplies to help them out.

sean said "ummmm..... i would just rather buy you something"

at least he is honest.

i hope your day goes great tomorrow no matter what you do.

 

ice ice baby.

All right STOP. Collaborate and listen.

(dorkiest title E V E R but i did listen to that song on my first date with mr. duerksen) 

yesterday i wore a skirt and flip flops.
we woke up this morning to a blanket of ice.
it was wrapped around everything in site.
kansas is going off the deep end!






these are icicles!!
icicles on every branch and leaf and blade of grass.
and it was still raining.






i took all these pictures in my yard while i waited 20 minutes for my car to warm up enough for the ice to melt off the windshield!
SOMEONE took my ice scraper this morning before she left for school even though she got her own ice scraper in her stocking this past christmas... a NICE one with a fur glove from eddie bauer!  

the ice was so thick over all the windows that i couldn't see out AT ALL.

this was my view from the driver's seat out my front windshield!!!

seriously!

and if you have never experienced an ice storm...
it has a very weird sound.
it seems quieter because of how the ice must absorb sound? maybe 
but then all the branches and bits of ice touch together when there is wind and it makes a crackley sound.
and then big tree limbs fall off all over town because of the weight of the ice on old heavy braches.
very exciting!  
not.

for now... we have power so that is good.
this happened 8 years ago when annie was a new baby and we lost power for 8 days!
so i am hoping this ice junk (even though it's pretty) will be all melty by tomorrow.

besides... i have running to do!
that little 13.1 mile run is only 18 days away!
ugh.

i wish it was 18 days ago.
i am ready to stop thinking about it.
i want it over! 

i put bbq ribs in the crockpot this morning.
then drove very slowly to the craft house for a hot bath because the hot water was out at the farm.
for reals.
the washing machine is broken too.
a tree limb knocked down the fence in the yard.
and the glass in the back door shattered last night.
AND for some reason this storm makes everything smell like the lagoon in the back. 

so yeah... a hot bath was happening no matter what.

and now a blanket and a movie?

yes.

that.

 

 

 

 

winter sunset

************************************************

it has been reeeeally cold here but then suddenly there will be a 65 degree afternoon here and there.
this was one of those.
sometimes you have to rush out and soak up as much of it as you can.
(squeezing that inbetween laundry and dinner prep and everything else)



talby went out just as the sun was setting and shouted for me to come see her flip she has perfected.
she has worked for years on it!
woo-hoo!!

as soon as the trampoline springs start squeaking the neighbor dogs show up in our yard.
they love my little girls.




talby pretends she has a ball and they wait and wait for her to throw it.
she and annie play with them a LOT!






so silly.

as we were taking these pictures craig pulled up from work.
that is my favorite part of the day.
all my people under one roof for the night.... yes.

 

the stoves are still being sponsored!!
YOU are AWESOME!

we only need 15 more stoves to reach $5000!! 

that is totally doable in three days!

it's INCREDIBLE that it's up so high already!

you guys are the best best best! 

i am dying to see one of these stoves in real life and be able to share my stories from Haiti!!

the more i read about Haiti... the more i am falling in love.

FIFTEEN STOVES.

three days.

be a SUPER STAR today! let's make a difference!

we can change things in the world!
WE CAN!
we can change children dying from toxic smoke.... we can.
 

SPONSOR A STOVE CLICK HERE.

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ok....i have crazy long list to check off today.
all the last minute things that i need to pack and have copies of, etc.
i made two more freezer meals last night and two more this morning.
i am feeling prepared i think.

we will see how i feel tonight.... yikes.

 

 

sunny sunday.

craft weekend went well..fun group of ladies!
we added in a dairy farm visit on saturday.
my friend kerry had a sale out out her farm and we took the craft girls out there for lunch & shopping.
and a bonus was getting to see the cows up close too.

i came home sunday afternoon from Craft Weekend and it was absolutely PERFECT outside.
i watched my girls jumping on the trampoline and could not resist pulling out my camera with that gorgeous light pouring in through the yellow trees.










































i was happy to be back home with them.
we made a campfire and had s'mores and all night i was just overflowing with gratitude for.... all of it.
the sunlight....the turning leaves...the quiet....the beautiful setting....my kids....my husband....the stars...

and the left over cheesecake.
 
how was your weekend?
what did you do?

i pet a cow.

(and later....i found cow poop in my hair.   for reals.  but i lived.)