Cleaning Tarin's Room

Today I tackled Tarin's very unorganized bedroom.  I try to keep in mind that her room is small and with a full size bed that takes up most of the space that it isn't always her fault that she can't keep it very cleaned.  Also one wall is nothing but drawers and small closets, which you would think would be helpful.  Bottom line is clutter makes me crazy...

I couldn't help getting frustrated as I dove head first into one closet and noticed that she has kept a lot of things that are SO unnecessary.  Out came the trash bags and at first I was asking if she needed to keep things but she wanted to keep everything.  I explained she really only needed to keep what was important, not every piece of paper is.  Moving right along I got closets and drawers cleaned out but then I noticed that she was going through the trash bags.  This makes me crazy!!!  Floyd does the same thing...in fear that I am going to throw something away that he/she will one day need in the near future. They won't because I will find it a few months from now, unused, just moved to a new place just waiting for the one day it may be used. My rule is if you haven't missed it in the last few months then you don't need it.  I did let Tarin keep a few things.

 Then the panic attack came when I opened one of the cabinets.  I didn't know what to pull out first, I couldn't breath as I stood trying to decide what to do, my heart is racing and I walked out.  I was done for the evening. Now I knew I wouldn't sleep knowing I left her room unfinished and I couldn't figure out when I would have the time to get it finished so I took a breather which was much needed 15 minutes later I took another deep breath and conquered it. 

Tarin kept getting distracted with different things that had been buried throughout her room.  I finally had to ask her to leave the room.  I felt bad doing it but she wasn't helping in the sense of picking things up or throwing things away.  She did help about the first 30 minutes so I try not to get to upset that she didn't help the whole 2 hours it took me. After all she is only 8 years old.

I now know that I am not the only mother who suffers from the wide range of emotions when it comes to cleaning your child's room.  I also now know how my mother felt when my room was a mess...a path leading to the bed!  I do feel better that Tarin now has a clean and organized room...wonder if she slept as well as I did!

You don't get anything clean without getting something else dirty. ~Cecil Baxter

Menchhofer Farm

Yesterday we spent the afternoon at Menchhofer Farm.  Pumpkins, animals to feed, corn maze, and horse-drawn hayrides.  It was a warm fall day...perfect fall day to spend out on the farm!

Bridgett, Zach and Sherrie

Tarin

Not sure why my eyes are closed.

Sylvia and me petting the donkey.

Kiley and mommy

Floyd made a friend!

Tarin with a quarters worth of feed.

Bridgett feeding the ewes.

Dalton feeding goats.

Tarin feeding sheep.

Nice warm fire...a small one.

Grandma with 2 grandkids.

Walking through the 3 little pig corn maze.

Kiley thought she was big stuff getting to run through with the big kids!

"Let's go this way!"

Kiley says "Hey wait for me!"

Floyd and I

Hayride!!

Floyd took this from the top of the tower.  We look so little!

Finally we get to go on the hayride!

Pumpkin patch

Bittersweet October. The mellow, messy, leaf-kicking, perfect pause between the opposing miseries of summer and winter. ~Carol Bishop Hipps

Friday Night Family Dinner

Floyd's family gets together just about every Friday night to go out to eat at a local restaurant.  Finally we were able to go and it was once again a really good evening.  As sad as this is going to sound I couldn't tell you where we ate but it was in Minster, Ohio.  We ate dinner and then went back to Sylvia's (my mother in-laws) to sit by a fire.

Kiley ready to eat!

Kiley showing Mom what she wanted off the menu. 

Grandma handing out quarters to Tarin and Dalton. 

Ashley and Ben...lovebirds!

Some of the most important conversations I've ever had occurred at my family's dinner table.

~Bob Ehrlich

New Knoxville Fireman's Picnic

Our soon to be brother in-law Ben (Sparky) is a fireman for New Knoxville and invited us all to come to enjoy a smack your lips, lick your fingers, drooling just of the smell chicken dinner and to watch the local firemen compete for bragging rights as they race to take off the doors of cars. It was alot of fun to watch and Tarin was just as excited to roam around the park by herself.

Free train rides around the park! 

Life Flight landing 

Floyd, Ben and Ashley 

Ben's team beat the other New Knoxville team, in the first round...it was the older guys against the younger ones. 

Dale and Floyd 

They made it to the final round but with no lighting on their side they got 2nd place. 

Ben's dad and future father in-law

So as you look at the firefighter with his rake, hose or axe,

His beet red face or ice covered mustache,

You should know why he goes through that smoky front door,

And is forced to crawl like a baby down on the floor.

He does it to save both lives and property,

All that is precious to you and to me.

So take a good look at this modern warrior who serves his call proud and true,

And know that he would die just to save me and you.

~Robert J. Athans

Lawn Mower Derby

Yes folks it reads Lawn Mower Derby...but it is something you have to experience in person to really understand the excitement that it holds.  My sister in-law Ashley was the first woman in 14 years to make it in the finals!!!  WAY TO GO ASH!! 

 

The only reason why we ask other people how their weekend was is so we can tell them about our own weekend. ~Chuck Palahniuk