What My Mommy Does

A while back I was sitting at my spot at the kitchen table with my laptop and phone.  Which is pretty much my normal work routine. I had never stopped to think about how my kids perceive my work until this particular day.

My youngest was dashing through the kitchen with a friend she had over to play. She stops. Turns to her friend and points at me and says "That's my mom working- all she does everyday is type on her computer and talk on the phone." I look up from my computer to see her friend look me up and down with a puzzled face, shrug her shoulders and run off.

It got me to thinking- what is my job title? When people ask me what I do it is hard to explain. I often give people a long stare and an even longer explanation of the current project I'm working on to somehow justify that I'm a skilled production person. So, how can I expect my kids to know my job if I don't even know how to explain my job.
I'm a:
Mom
Wife
Housekeeper (that we should fire)
Social media freelancer
Entrepreneur
Volunteer
Board Member
Quilt Shop Partner -( check out www.quilterscornersd.com)
Economic Development Coordinator
Skilled Farm Assistant  (that is highly undervalued)

So, how do I wrap that all into one cool job title? I've thought and thought and just can't come up with anything. Freelancer just doesn't have the cool ring to it that encompasses my career.

My kids understand what their dad does- he's a farmer. He has the cool title that explains it all. He puts on his suit everyday- which is his winter coveralls this time of year and leaves the house at 8:00 am every morning.  He comes home from his job every night about the same time and he can tell them what he did that day and they understand it.  When people ask them they can say my dad is a farmer with pride!

So, it certainly has become evident to me that I probably won't be asked to come and speak at school career day.  But hopefully someday my children will look back and see that I made the career choices I did to spend time with them and make the moments matter to them count. Maybe that's all the job title I need.

Where I Come From We Rode In Trucks

It’s no secret that I have a crush on Luke Bryan but I also relate with this song. Pickup’s have been an important role in my life. 

I learned to drive on an old Blue Chevy ranch pickup. My dad felt it was absolute must that all ranch girls learn to drive ‘stick’ before leaning automatic. I had to put my foot under the clutch peddle to lift it off the floor and shift with two hands all at the same time.  Oh, and the shifter knob had long been replaced with a cue ball so I really had concentrate to remember what gear I was in. 

Certainly I think my dad did have an alternative motive for teaching me to drive the ranch pickup. There were plenty of times he would make me drive the 1 ton dully with glass packs and sometimes a trailer to high school to run errands for him after school. There was nothing more embarrassing to a girl hiding from her cowgirl legacy then driving that thing to school. Letting off the gas and hearing that BROOOM, BROOOM, BROOOM noise always made me just cringe. 

When I got to college, my sorority sister drove a little pregnant roller skate manual car, I was the only other sister who knew how to drive it and at times when she had too much at the bar and I didn’t, I would drive us home. I was amazed at how much fun it could be to drive a manual...this was not the ranch pickup!   I impressed by many a boy at college with my driving abilities. 

I have to tell you that when I met my Cowboy it was probably his cool pickup that may have sealed the deal with us. I had never dated a boy who drove a pickup and although he didn’t let me drive it, I was still impressed. 

The pickup tradition continues with my children. This spring during breading season the kids spent many an hours entertaining themselves in the back of the truck. This particular day the girls with their cousins were pretending they were in a pirate ship sailing the 7 seas...

Young Mr. Hadrick has the farmer drive already down. He is allowed to move the pickup around the yard from time to time. Look at the casual arm out the window and one hand on the wheel. Must be a dominate gene in the male farmer, this can’t be taught, its natural ability. 

Sometimes we clean our pickups up and take them to town. It’s a common occurrence to see a ranch pickup pulling a float in the 4th of July parade.

We also use the pickup for our office on any given day and sometimes I feel we live in it. Here I’m using it as a prep station for breeding cattle this spring. We are out on the prairire, It may be crude but it gets the work done. 

To this day some of my favorite memories as a child is in that old blue Chevy pickup and there is always a smile on my face when I’m driving my Cowboys 1 ton Dodge pickup and I hear that turbo windup...

Hello Routine, My Old Friend...

This marks my first day of having routine back in my life for fall 2012.  I said goodbye to routine in late April and sure have missed her.  Summer always forces routine out of the house- there is just no room for her with the kids home.  I look back on the craziness of summer and I sure enjoyed it but because routine was absent, I felt like I was missing something. 

So, here I sit today on a Monday hanging out with routine again.  So far we've got through almost my whole to do list and a little more.  In fact I've done so well with routine this morning that I had time to do this blog post!

So the trade off of welcoming routine back into my life means that all three Hadrick children are in school this year.  Yep my baby is in Kindergarden!  

There she sits at her little kindergarden table, the last Hadrick kid to join the school ranks. Now, I have to share that this mom didn't get emotional this year as I got her settled at her spot. I'm not sure why there was no tears on my part, but more of a feeling of relief and excitement for her.  My cute little Kindergartner didn't really show emotion either. Not excited or sad, just accepting of her fate as full time school participant. 

Now, after her first 3 days, the verdict is still out about her new adventure. Her teacher indicated that she was the only child that didn't raise her hand when she asked at the end of the first day when she asked the students if they had fun.  When I asked Miss R why she didn't raise her hand. She said we had to raise our hand all day long I was just too tired to raise it again.

I believe Kindergarden will grow on her...because one things for sure, I really like routine hanging out with me and I'm not giving her up! 

Hadrick's Disney Favs

I know, I know it is way past time to share our Disney adventure with you- but as a busy mom sometimes I don't get to things right away.  I've been on the road a lot this month and just have not had time to get this done. The kids have been bagging me to get the update done,  they wanted me to share their favorites about Disney. We all had a great time and I would go back in a heart beat. 

Teigen threw caution to the wind and tried adventurous things at Disney that surprised us he would attempt.  Space Mountain was Teigens favorite ride hands down.  He tried the other roller costers but in the end Space Mountain has the right amount of thrill. We were proud when he chose to not go to the dark side as he participated in the Jedi Training. He was able to defend himself against Darth Vader and received his certificate of completion.  He also built his own light saber and now is also versed in that skill, this is a big deal in the life of a star wars fan. The other day I caught him checking out the Disney app on my phone.  He told me he was looking at the wait times, he just wants to be prepared for when we go back.

On a ride with Cousin Kayla

Miss O is a roller coster lovin girl- who knew! She went on all of them Expedition Everest, Rock 'n' Roller Coster and Space Mountain. Big smile on her face after each one. I'm not sure where this wild side comes from but it is something I will have to keep on eye on now that I've caught a glimpse. When I asked her what else she wanted to share she only wanted me to talk about the roller costers. I do have to tell you that one of my favorite membories of Miss O is her comment as we were getting done with the Small World ride. She looked at my Cowboy and said "it seems like a big world when you ride this ride."  Always the practical thinker.

Miss R embraced the true heart of Disney, which in turn melted mine. She loved every minute of everything. I have to start before we left telling her favorites. Miss R loves to wear dresses, I explained that in Florida she could wear her summer dresses but she refused to pack any. When I finally asked her why she explained she had her dress- she planned to wear her Rapunzel dress each day we were there. 

She wore her dress the day she became a princess. She went to the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique wear her personal fairy godmother did her hair, makeup, and nails. She gasped with delight when her look was revealed. At that moment they created the princess she has always knew she was and my eyes filled with tears because she was so excited. She also loved the Aladdin Magic Carpet Ride. It was the right amount of excitement she was looking for. Miss R is still talking about the trip and the other day I heard her singing the tune from the Carousel of Progress. Disney may have changed her life. 

She really wanted me to share this picture with all of you

As for My Cowboy he came around to enjoying the Disney experience. He went on all the rides including Tower of Terror.  I even heard him use the words 'when we go back'. I appreciate all the coordination he did of our time in Disney and packing my favorite wine. 

For me- my fav- let's put it this way. I always pictured myself working at some gift shop in Yellowstone when I retired but I would consider spending my winters working at Disney...

High Expectations

Two things most know about me is that I have high expectations and I appreciate good service. Going into our trip to Disney World I was looking for both of these things to be met. I also have to tell you the I'm not a Disney fanatic- sure I was excited to have this experience with my family but I actually could take or leave Micky Mouse.  I have to admit at first my socks were not knocked off, and I started to question the Disney experience.  As our trip went on I started to understand what people rave about with Disney. What it comes down to- they know how to entertain people and provide great service.  

Look close these are Minnie Ears

On our second day I had a question about PhotoPass option and I walked up to a random cast member to ask, figuring that I would get redirected to a place that I could get a answer. No, they knew the answer and I found that time and time again that each of the cast members know not just their job but can answer questions about all related to Disney.

By day 4 I started to pay attention to the cast members and how the reacted to each person, there was always a smile and they seemed to really want to know your concern/question and would do anything to fix it.  We had purchased a pin the day before for Miss O that broke and we went back to a different store to see if we could get a replacement. The cast member offered Miss O a pin off her personal collection.  Miss O really had her heart set on replacing her baby Daffy pen and when the lady saw her face she quickly went to the rack and got her a new pin. 

The food was great and the food service cast members where very helpful. Our first night we dined at the Teppan Edo in Epcot.  The food was great and the presentation was better.  My family was entertained and had a quality meal. That set the tone for the rest of the week, Miss R carried the chopsticks fashioned for her the rest of the week. We ate so much My Cowboy says that I almost killed us with too much eating. Disney does not want you to go away hungry when you use their dining plans. 

Disney sure has something for everyone and I was amazed at their entertainment levels. We had 10 people with us that included my mom and Aunt K, Uncle B, Cousins K & C we all had a great time riding the rides,  watching the parades and shows and meeting the characters.  The Kali River ride is an example of just one of many rides we did as a family.  I had not laughed that much in a long time!

The family right after the Kali River Ride- We are WET

All in all my expectations were met with flying colors. Every part of the trip I saw how Disney was working to make my families experience the most it could be. Even My Cowboy had a good time!

Christmas Tradition #1-The Village

The first sign of Christmas in our house is by far our favorite family tradition. My Cowboy & started a Department 56 Village shortly after we got married.  I have to say My Cowboy was not really excited about the village but has come around and is usually the one who is the first to suggest we put it up.  Every year right after Halloween we all start to itch to put up the village.  This is a process and takes a lot of mental preparation! We have over 40 pieces and it takes a lot of walking up and down the stairs to bring up each individual box. Once the boxes are upstairs, the real works begins- we place each piece with love and a plan. You can't have the Real Plastic Snow Factory next to the Taffy Factory- who wants to risk the food safety issues there? The placement of the village is only half the battle.  The lighting is the next challenge. My Cowboy takes the lighting very seriously, over the years we have developed a special system that appears as northern lights at night.

We all love the village and each of us have our favorite pieces.  It is so important to us that we considered house plans with the village placement in mind. Our new house has plug-ins above the cabinets and it is the perfect place to display our collection. This is our second Christmas in the house and we continued to adjust our design but all agree this is a cool location to show off our North Pole Village. 

Every year we break something- this year our first casualty was an unsuspecting elf that loads Santa's Sleigh.  He was up on the ladder and a cupboard door shut a little too hard nocked him onto the counter (thousands of elf feet below).  This time of year I have lots of crazy glue on hand, so we were able to fix him up and after spending some time at the Elf Clinic for some R&R he has returned to his station. Just in time for the busy season! 

I'm sure I will continue to share pictures of the village throughout the Christmas season- I will also keep you updated on any more casualties that may occur with the elves. It's a busy season, although safety is important accidents do happen. 

Building A Blog- What's my Recipe?

As I launch my blog I'm thinking about the recipe I will follow.  The main ingredient I have in my blog is family.  I'm the mother of 3 growing children, Teigen, Olivia & Reese.  Although they are young we are busy with school, 4-H, and church.  I'm also married to my best friend, my cowboy.  My cowboy and I raise cattle & crops on the prairie.  We love where we live and appreciate the lifestyle we are raising our children in.
My recipe also includes my job beyond being a mom & wife. I have many 'paying' jobs that I will continue to share. I'm also an entrepreneur,  my cowboy & I have developed a business that we continue to build with all the challenges and joys of working with your spouse!
I also have a full cup of travel, I'm fortunate to have a job that gets me out of the tri-county area on a regular basis.  Add another cup of community. I'm involved as a 4-H & youth group leader and see those continuing to develop and keeping me running more.
Throw in a big dash of rural life on the prairie. I have to drive 65 miles to get to a town with shopping.  I'm an hour from WalMart, Starbucks and McDonalds.  This rural living makes me have to plan ahead for lots of things since my small town does not have many of the features most are use to having.
That's my recipe for my blog.  I look forward to connecting with people about the joys of my rural lifestyle.