Sunday, January 19, 2014
pulling out the big guns
So, as I've mentioned before, the husband is pretty into farming and tractors. He has been for most of his life. As a kid, he would subscribe to any kind of farm/tractor magazine that was free. He got quite the collection until the companies realized that he was just a kid--after which they stopped sending them.
In high school he started collecting toy tractors. They were not to be played with, but rather, used for display. When I married him, I suppose I kind of became part owner of the collection. Ha, not what Jake thinks. I kind of turned him down when he wanted to display them in the living room of our first apartment. Instead I told him someday he could have his own office where he could display all of them in the open. (Don't judge me.) Anyways, they have been in a box ever since labeled, 'Fragile: Jake's tractors.'
When we found out we were having a boy (M), I jokingly asked Jake if he would let our child play with them as a kid. He half-joking, half-serious said, "No way! Maybe when he is 16 I will pull them out and give him the talk about how special the tractors are. No chance of having a toddler or small kid play with them."
Well, alrighty then...
Skip ahead to last month. Our Christmas tree was up, but we hadn't decorated it yet. I was waiting for a day when we could do it as a family. After a few days of a bare tree, Jake decided he would start decorating it. He surprised me when he pulled out the box labeled, 'Fragile: Jake's tractors.' You should have seen the look on M's face when Jake opened the box--it seemed to be saying, "JACKPOT!!!"
Within a few minutes, Jake had put together some tractor ornaments with some of his collectibles and the ornament hangers. M was thoroughly intrigued by the collection while Jake made the ornaments.
After a few of the ornaments were hung, Jake gave M a short lesson on what some of the proper names of the tractors and equipment were. Hopefully someday they can work together on real tractors!
In high school he started collecting toy tractors. They were not to be played with, but rather, used for display. When I married him, I suppose I kind of became part owner of the collection. Ha, not what Jake thinks. I kind of turned him down when he wanted to display them in the living room of our first apartment. Instead I told him someday he could have his own office where he could display all of them in the open. (Don't judge me.) Anyways, they have been in a box ever since labeled, 'Fragile: Jake's tractors.'
When we found out we were having a boy (M), I jokingly asked Jake if he would let our child play with them as a kid. He half-joking, half-serious said, "No way! Maybe when he is 16 I will pull them out and give him the talk about how special the tractors are. No chance of having a toddler or small kid play with them."
Well, alrighty then...
Skip ahead to last month. Our Christmas tree was up, but we hadn't decorated it yet. I was waiting for a day when we could do it as a family. After a few days of a bare tree, Jake decided he would start decorating it. He surprised me when he pulled out the box labeled, 'Fragile: Jake's tractors.' You should have seen the look on M's face when Jake opened the box--it seemed to be saying, "JACKPOT!!!"
Within a few minutes, Jake had put together some tractor ornaments with some of his collectibles and the ornament hangers. M was thoroughly intrigued by the collection while Jake made the ornaments.
After a few of the ornaments were hung, Jake gave M a short lesson on what some of the proper names of the tractors and equipment were. Hopefully someday they can work together on real tractors!
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
Monday, January 13, 2014
halloween, a little late
Sorry, this is a total catch-up post. Obviously. It's January and I am writing about Halloween. Here goes...
Each year the community we live in has a dinner, costume parade, trunk-or-treat, and then a movie to celebrate Halloween. Being our first Halloween in the area, we decided to go and had quite an enjoyable time. Jake and I were asked to help with the costume parade and cooking the burgers. We had a good time and were able to get to know some of our neighbors better.
We dressed M as a garden gnome. I left making his hat until the last minute and didn't realize that the green felt I bought to make it, and his red shirt, along with his beard, made him look more like a Christmas elf than a gnome once the hat was ready. It was okay, though, he didn't mind!
As a side note, I have to tell you how wonderful Jake is. See the picture below? I was busy trying to get the awards made for the costume parade that I was low on time for making the hat. Jake is really good with measurements and building things, so I asked him what he thought the best way would be to make a cone-shaped hat for M's costume. He started to try and figure it out and just took the whole project over. He was such a big help! Doesn't he look good just crafting away?!
Here are some pictures of the costume parade. I was quite impressed with the originality and creativity of a lot of the costumes.
There is M below in the far left with the red shirt. He is with my friend, Donna. He refused to wear his beard and hat for the parade, so there ya go.
On the actual day of Halloween, Jake's work had trick-or-treating for kids of the employees. I had never been inside the building Jake works in (you need a pass to get in), so I jumped at the opportunity to go...and to take M trick-or-treating, of course.
Anyways, it was fun to go and see where he works. All of his co-workers and the rest of the employees were very kind and sweet to the trick-or-treaters. M got way too much candy, but it was okay. Jake and I helped him out with that!
I think M "gets" what Halloween is now. It was a fun week of Halloween festivities!
Each year the community we live in has a dinner, costume parade, trunk-or-treat, and then a movie to celebrate Halloween. Being our first Halloween in the area, we decided to go and had quite an enjoyable time. Jake and I were asked to help with the costume parade and cooking the burgers. We had a good time and were able to get to know some of our neighbors better.
We dressed M as a garden gnome. I left making his hat until the last minute and didn't realize that the green felt I bought to make it, and his red shirt, along with his beard, made him look more like a Christmas elf than a gnome once the hat was ready. It was okay, though, he didn't mind!
As a side note, I have to tell you how wonderful Jake is. See the picture below? I was busy trying to get the awards made for the costume parade that I was low on time for making the hat. Jake is really good with measurements and building things, so I asked him what he thought the best way would be to make a cone-shaped hat for M's costume. He started to try and figure it out and just took the whole project over. He was such a big help! Doesn't he look good just crafting away?!
Here are some pictures of the costume parade. I was quite impressed with the originality and creativity of a lot of the costumes.
There is M below in the far left with the red shirt. He is with my friend, Donna. He refused to wear his beard and hat for the parade, so there ya go.
Anyways, it was fun to go and see where he works. All of his co-workers and the rest of the employees were very kind and sweet to the trick-or-treaters. M got way too much candy, but it was okay. Jake and I helped him out with that!
I think M "gets" what Halloween is now. It was a fun week of Halloween festivities!
Thursday, January 9, 2014
so long 2013
As always, it is hard to believe that another year has come and gone. It has been a good year for our family. There were a lot of changes and a lot of blessings.
top 10 highlights of 2013:
* all of our family reunions
It's been a good year. Lots of blessings. So long 2013!
top 10 highlights of 2013:
* Jake graduated
* Jake started working at his "dream" job
(which has been incredibly long hours, but great experience)
* we moved to a new place (for the job)
* our New York trip
* M is potty trained!!!
* meeting new friends
* all of our family reunions
* meeting baby D for the first time (M is kind of smitten by him)
* for me, lessons on forgiveness were learned
* we found out we will be adding a little girl to our family come May 2014
We're kind of excited!!!
It's been a good year. Lots of blessings. So long 2013!
Friday, December 6, 2013
Bingham reunion 2013
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| Bidding at the auction |
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| Ryan, the "auctioneer" |
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| M playing with cousin Will |
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| Foot races |
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| Great-grandma Bingham and Grandma Bevan |
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| M with Great-grandpa Bingham |
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| Lining up for the sack races |
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| Egg toss |
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| Entertainment at its best...tractor rides! |
So thankful for the fun weekend we had with everyone!
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