Joe and Josiah Go on a Trip!

My firstborn and I just recently completed an exciting trip to the amazing land of... yep, Nebraska! Filled with such wonders as: no hills, lots of wind, chaff, and rock roads! State motto: "Get in, get out--as fast as you can!"

One of my good friends from college (the legalistic one, not the "liberal" one!), Chris "Shuf" Rohrbaugh and his family live out there [wife Jhoanna, son Willy (7), daughter Katie (4), and daughter Charlotte Ann (1.5).]

Shuf lives on a nice 3 acre spread with a beautiful 40x40 shop w/ concrete floor. The family actually lives in the house, though! Shuf runs an organic farm with his dad, Paul. They are also both leaders in their local Baptist church. They live entirely off custom processing chickens and steers. They also sell at the farmer's markets in Omaha and Lincoln. (They live about 1 hour south of both outside the "town" of Steineur.) Though they don't make much, they still have a great way of life.

I had this week off from work, so I decided to take my "Scoop" (Josiah) with me on a 8 hour trip to NE. Josiah did remarkably well and really enjoyed the one on one with his Daddy. I am amazed at his vocabulary and "maturity" for a 3 year old. He was extremely well behaved and just loved going to the farm. His favorite things that we did were feeding the chickens, chasing the roosters, and riding the 4 wheeler.

One of the projects he helped with was getting some salvage lumber at an abandoned farm. Josiah was very helpful and made sure all the brambles were whacked down for us with his stick sword. Scoop also enjoyed playing with his "cousins" and his goofy "Uncle Shuf."

We also had the opportunity to go to a circus in Lincoln. Josiah missed his nap and was a bit cranky at the circus until... the "Amazing Bears!" One bear rode a ridiculously tall bike, a motorcycle, walked on his hands, and many other cool tricks. There was also some well-trained tigers and one rather bulgy lion. The big ol' lion was not having any of the "leaping for the audience" stuff. He did, however, run AROUND the fences much to everyone's great amusement. This circus also featured elephants which did rather neat tricks. Their large elephant is actually the largest elephant in North America to balance its entire weight on a solid rubber ball. To be honest it looked impossible! Josiah did not really appreciate any of the human elements of the circus (trapeze, heights, "jumping around") except the one where the humans balanced on balls and went up a 3 part ramp and then back down. It looked quite difficult. Josiah got a really cool light-up, noisemaking sword. (For the very low price of $5...) But he immensely enjoys it. Another thing that he enjoyed were snowcones (2), popcorn (1), rootbeer (2), and cotton candy (1). Needless to say he was rather sticky by the conclusion of the evening!

Both of us managed to get a sinus infection while we were out there. Much to my chagrin, I believe my 3 year old is tougher than his 28 year-old dad!

Back at the Homefront

While Joe and Josiah ventured off to Nebraska, Jacob and I stayed home and enjoyed some quiet.

We had several appointments to go to, and I confess I enjoyed it just being mommy and baby.
Jacob battled a little virus for a few days. Not strep, and no fever, but his poor little cry got pretty hoarse before he got better.
Other than that, Jacob is doing very well. He's growing! He is now 14 pounds and 23 inches long. Not bad for a 7 weeker.
I enjoyed watching a few chick flicks and catching up on some spring organizing projects at home while my men were gone.
So as I'm sitting here typing this, Josiah is singing Zaccheus and it's one of the cutest things I've ever seen. Happy sigh.