And the winning name is...

After many fabulous suggestions and polling all our friends and family, we are pleased to announce that we chose Redhead Homestead as the winning name!  We have been trying it out this summer at the farmers market and will soon be launching a website, so please stay tuned!

Farm Name (part 2!)

Back in January we asked for your assistance in naming the farm.  The kids had helped us come up with some ideas and some of you suggested some great names too!  From the chart below, you can see that Redhead Acres was the clear favorite.  Unfortunately, there is already a farm in Missouri with that name.

So now we are into round two of picking out a name.  We have come up with a whole list of names below similar to Redhead Acres.  And we are calling on you again to help us narrow the choices. 

• Redhead Meadows
• Redhead Fields
• Redhead Family Farm
• Redhead Pastures
• Redhead Patches
• Redhead Homestead
• Redhead Country
• Redhead Tillage
• Redhead Cultivars

* Our offer still stand of a free jar of homemade applesauce to the person who submits a winning farm name.

double rainbow & apple trees

"Mommy Clean"

My kids receive hand-me-downs, surprise treats and gifts from many people that care about them.  Whether it's a new doll for their birthday, a bicycle for Christmas or a box of too small clothes from a cousin, my kids do not want for much of anything.  Throw in my OCD tendency towards keeping things (no I'm not a hoarder!!) and not wanting to be wasteful or fill the landfill up needlessly, and it all adds up to a lot of stuff.  Having a lot of stuff not only takes up space but it also takes up time.  Time picking things up and putting them away.  Time cleaning things or trying to clean around them. 

Every year, at least once, hubby and I go through boxes and closets, toy bins and dressers trying to choose things taking up time and space in our lives.  Before moving to Iowa, we held three yard sales and sadly after filling the U-haul truck, I still had to leave behind 15 boxes of books and several other items.  One thing I did not really get through before the move though was the kids' toys.  In the more than 8 years of our kids' birthdays, Christmases, Easters and assorted other events those toys can really pile up. 

Luckily we devised a plan early on to keep the toys out of the kids' room(s).  I thought their bedroom should only contain clothing, books and a few special dolls or stuffed animals.  The bulk of the toys would stay in a designated play room or area.  When our oldest was a baby, she had one toy box in the living room.  After having two kids, we kept them in a shared bedroom so that we could use the other room as a play room.  Even after the third kid entered the scene, we kept them all in one bedroom, with a play area in our sunroom. 

This plan has worked well. Young kids do not have the same need for privacy as adults and they love having ample space to play.  Keeping everyone's toys together in a designated area helped minimize the complaints of "mine" and eased the sharing of toys with siblings.  It also helped keep the bedroom as a quiet place for sleeping and reading.  When baby brother was napping, the girls could still play with their toys in the other room.  Here on the farm the girls share a bedroom and the boys share a bedroom, but the toys still have a separate designated area on the porch.  I admit I do not pay particular attention to this play area and sometimes the kids take all bins and dump the toys on the floor.  As long as they get everything picked up when I ask, I no longer worry about sorting into the labeled drawers unless we are doing a purge or having company.  :)

But the girls' bedroom seems to have taken on a whole new identity this winter.  Maybe because it's been too cold to even play on the porch and everyone has been cooped up too long, but toys seem to be creeping inside and hiding in every crevice of their bedroom.  Dirty clothes cannot seem to find their way three feet towards the door into the hamper and the kids must be holding daily fashion shows judging by the clean clothes piling up.  Last week I dove head first into their room and hung up all their dresses, folded t-shirts, pants and jammies.  Matched socks (my least favorite job!) and swept every sort of knick knack, trinket and bauble out from under the furniture.  I arranged books on shelves by size and framed photos to put on their dressers.  Then enter Spring Break... I tried to walk into their room yesterday, only to find myself unable to move with stepping on something or other.  I let it be known that if the clothes were no picked up, beds made and toys put away before lunch today, there would be consequences!  Each girl limited to 5 outfits of my choosing!  If you have elementary aged girls, they are probably as opinionated and picky about their outfits as mine, so this is motivating.  Except today, it wasn't.  From the kitchen I heard laughter and playing.  I gave a 1 hour warning, which soon turned into a half hour warning.

What I have gleaned from facebook friends and fellow parents, this struggle is common.  All the stuff piling up, the battle to control the toys and clothes.  I used my trusty label maker (did I mention I'm a bit OCD?) to label each dresser drawer and each toy bin, but that will only go so far.  I know my children clean best with specific guidelines, such as "pick up all the books" rather than the general "clean your room."  So after today's battle, I am instigating some new rules and methods to our bedroom cleaning routine.  I created a checklist to be posted on the door.  The girls can see what is expected for their room to be "mommy clean" - up to mommy's standard of clean and not just everything hidden under the bed and in the closet. 

click on photo to download pdf of the checklist

 Anything left on the floor overnight will be confiscated and sent to toy jail.  I found this cute printable on the Little Mama blog (and another version at Organized Mom).  The printable includes chores that kids can do as ransom to free their toys.  So over the next couple months we will be testing the checklist and toy jail methods.  We will also be getting rid of some more toys and clothes to free up time and space.  I will keep you posted on our progress, but in the meantime, keep us in your prayers!!  And if you have any brilliant ideas to help tackle the clutter, please let me know.

City Slickers

In 1971 my grandparents fled the big city and purchased 27 acres outside a small town.  A few months later my grandpa wrote a letter to my grandma's brother in Maryland, detailing all the challenges they had faced.  I wish I had the letter to share with you.  Luckily some of the stories live on.

the old farmhouse

The house that stood on the farm when my grandparents moved in was old.  It was a two story farmhouse, heated by a large black stove in the living room and had an outhouse sitting nearby.  As you might imagine, snowy winters in Iowa are not very warm.  And when you live in an older house with minimal to no insulation and a heat stove that is far from a central heating system - that means the far away bedrooms upstairs were not nearly as toasty as the living room.  They probably wore warm jammies and added another blanket to their beds.  Maybe even snuggled up to their sister to keep warm.  But what happens when you head downstairs to the bathroom in the middle of the night?  Well if you lived in this particular house, you discover that snow is drifting in underneath the wall of the modern bathroom that was added onto the house.  And that the water in the toilet has frozen!  Yes, true story, it happened in my grandparents old farm house!

the old outhouse

Earlier this summer I shared some of our challenges and misadventures (here) in adjusting to farm life.  Summer quickly turned to fall and winter.  It has now been seven months living in Iowa and though we are settling in and adjusting to our new routines, it seems like the misadventures never end.

The Weather.  

When the girls started school at the end of August, temperatures were in the high 90s/low 100s, which is higher than the average 78-84* for that time of year.  Since the schools are not equipped with air conditioning, the kids were released early every day for the first two weeks.  The snowfall in October and November was a welcome change from the humid summer weather.  Winter break rolled around and the kids could barely last an hour all bundled up outside (picture Ralphie and Randy in a Christmas Story).  Everyone was looking forward to school starting back up when suddenly the Polar Vortex appeared and sent temperatures plunging to near record lows at -13*.  If that wasn't cold enough, the extreme wind chills dropped the outside air to -40*.  School was canceled for two days.

 

The Vehicles.  

Back in October on a drizzly evening, as we headed home from gymnastics, my minivan slowly drifted to a stop on the side of the interstate.  Lights were flickering and I could tell the battery was not fulfilling its duties.  Turns out the alternator was a goner.  Hubby and I changed the alternator the next day on the side of the interstate in the rain (me in my flip flops).  I thought the car and I came to an understanding after this episode, but two months later, on our way home from a Girl Scouts' Christmas potluck, again the lights start flickering and I know what's coming.  I tried to make it all the way home before the battery died, but instead we slowly came to a stop on the side of the road.  Just me and four kids.  In the dark.  During winter in Iowa.  Fortunately there was a house super close by that we were able to walk and wait for hubby to drive over and get us.  And here's where it gets funnier.  Hubby arrives and hooks up the minivan to be jump started.  If we can charge the battery and just get home, he can hopefully put the belt back on.  But his car runs out of gas.  We're again stuck on the side of the road with all four kids in the dark and cold.  Hubby had a nice 1.5 mile walk home to get a gas can.

 

The Plumbing.   

In the upstairs bathroom toilet there was a little doohickey that broke.  Since hubby previously worked as a plumber and is generally all around handy, he decided to fix it.  Apparently there was something about this set up that he was not familiar with, so he went to the downstairs bathroom to compare.  Somewhere along the lines, the same doohickey broke in the downstairs toilet!  (Lucky for us there is a third toilet in the guest room).  Hubby had to make a trip to the hardware store, where apparently the people working there were unfamiliar with the pieces he was looking for.  Hubby was finally able to get the toilets back together after a bit of work with the hardware store, so things were back to normal.  Until the upstairs toilet developed an unrelated leak.  A leak that was so small, no one noticed it until it had loosed the glue under the linoleum and the bathroom floor began to bubble up. 

 

The Germs.   

My freshman year of college I lived in the dorms.  The heating system apparently did a great job recycling air throughout the dorm building because it seemed like as soon as one person was sick, everyone in the building was sick.  Being cooped up in the house this chilly winter, I am reminded of those days.  I am fairly certain that every single germ the girls have come into contact with at school comes directly home to their little brother. The same little brother that loves to snuggle, stick his fingers in your mouth, lick your chapstick and share your drinks.  In other words, he likes to share those germs.  This has been the winter of endless colds!

Through it all, we still stand by our decision to move to the farm...but we are really looking forward to spring, when we can air out the house, get our hands dirty in the garden and I can start feeding the kids outside so I don't have to sweep the kitchen so often!

What's In a Name?

Seed catalogs have begun to arrive and we are making plans for Spring.  But we can't just show up at the Farmer's Market trying to sell our wares without a snazzy name for the farm.  So we've been brainstorming ideas and we need your help!  Below are some of the ideas we've had.  Help us narrow it down a little by letting us know which name(s) is/are your favorite(s)!

summertime

• Starline Creek Farm
• Squaw Creek Farm
• Rolling Hills Farm
• Toad Run Farm
• Honeybun Farm
• Nick Squared Growers
• Black Dog Farm
• Dannon Fields
• Redhead Acres
• Apple Hills Farm
• Ginger Estates
• The Wilson Farm  (Lily's pick)
• The Best Known Farm Ever  (Lily's pick)
• The Family Farm  (Addy's pick)
• Daddy's Farm (Addy's pick)
• Sean's Farm  (Sean's pick)
• Seanie's Farm (Sean's pick)

Do you have an idea that you think we will like?  Let us know!!  If you suggest the winning farm name (not on the list above) we will send you a jar of homemade applesauce.
 

the farm circa 1988

Hershey’s new Chocolate Almond Spread

I am a huge fan of Hershey's.  In fact, I use Hershey's unsweetened cocoa almost every single day to make hot cocoa.  It has just the right chocolate flavor and I can adjust the sweetness myself.  I am also a huge fan of Nutella (chocolate hazelnut spread). So when the Hershey's Chocolate Almond Spread arrived in the mail from Crowdtap, I had high expectations.

I decided to try the Hershey's spread with a wide variety of foods.  So I set up a little smorgasbord for the family.  I melted some of the spread and drizzled it over Chex cereal and  popcorn.  We dipped pretzels, potato chips, corn chips, pecans and almonds into the chocolate spread.  I mixed it into warm milk to make hot chocolate and I spread it on ritz crackers and with cream cheese on a tortilla.  The Hershey's spread was a huge success with the under 10 crowd.  Hubby was pleased with it as well.  I enjoyed the spread, it has that signature Hershey's chocolate taste I love, but honestly it was lacking in almond flavor.  Overall it is a good product that I would probably buy in the future if the kids ask, but for myself.  I will stick with Nutella.

 

100 Indoor Kids' Activities

Lately it has been so cold that the kids have not been able to go outside or on the porch to run around.  School was even cancelled two days!  All this leads up to a house full of pent up energy and slightly cranky kids.  I admit some days to letting them watch too many tv shows, but we've been trying to think of some creative ways to keep them moving, thinking and imagining.  Below I have a list of ideas.  I typed each one into Publisher and made little cards that I cut out.  I put all the cards into an empty tissue box.  Now whenever the kids are looking for something to do or tell me they are bored, I can have them reach in and grab a card.  But beware!  Some of the cards say "do a chore."  Two even say "do homework!"

100 Great Indoor Activities during Inclement Weather

1. do gymnastics stretches
2. crab walk the length of the living room
3. bear walk the length of the living room
4. bunny hop the length of the living room
5. frog leaps the length of the living room
6. flamingo walk the length of the living room
7. walk backwards the length of the living room
8. walk on tip toe the length of the living room
9. ten donkey kicks  (gymnastics-inspired activities are great for strength!)
10. ten jumping jacks
11. ten sit-ups
12. play red light, green light
13. play Simon says (teaches listening skills)
14. hop on one foot
15. spin around 5 times
16. act out your favorite story or book
17. read a book
18. build a fort
19. have a tea party or indoor picnic
20. have a dance party (let loose of all that energy, great for kids and parents)
21. write a letter (email is great and efficient, but who doesn't love a handwritten note?!)
22. make a card (homemade is extra special)
23. use toilet paper rolls to make a craft
24. go on a treasure hunt
25. bake cookies
26. color a picture
27. scrapbook
28. build an obstacle course
29. play cards
30. play a board game
31. take a bubble bath (entertainment and cleanliness at the same time)
32. make a music video (reminds me of my childhood singing Madonna...)
33. build something with recyclables
34. duct tape crafts
35. play hot potato
36. build a Lego city
37. record a video for a relative
38. plan a sleepover
39. make care kits for homeless (teaches kids compassion)
40. be a pirate
41. build a trap
42. tickle monster
43. use masking tape to make a game (ie hopscotch, balance beam, spider web)
44. make slime or ooblek
45. play playdough
46. use paper plates to make a ring toss
47. write secret messages with crayon and paint over to reveal
48. use lemon juice to write secret messages (science experiment in disguise!)
49. put together a puzzle
50. play pantyhose polo
51. do shadow puppets on the wall
52. write a story
53. play hide & seek or sardines
54. play musical chairs
55. blow bubbles on a plate
56. bead a necklace
57. make a snack necklace
58. cut up magazines to make a collage
59. draw with window markers (why waste paper?)
60. race paper airplanes
61. origami
62. have a playdate
63. plant an indoor herb garden
64. do a fashion show
65. play dress-up
66. make sock puppets (I know you have a million mismatched socks in the laundry room)
67. look at old photos (kids love hearing stories about themselves or their family)
68. re-arrange a room (even if only for a day)
69. have a family movie night, with popcorn and snuggles
70. host an un-birthday party
71. make paper dolls and clothes
72. edible sculptures from grapes or marshmallows and toothpicks
73. do a photo shoot
74. interview each other, make a "newspaper"
75. paint in the bathtub
76. have a spa day
77. freeze dance
78. use a balloon to play keep up
79. play charades
80. put on a kids' work out or dance video
81. learn the words to a song
82. memorize a bible verse or poem, then recite to each other
83. draw secret names, do something nice for that person
84. ring around the rosie
85. hokey pokey
86. duck, duck, goose
87. nerf dart war
88. nerf ball bowling
89. kitchen science experiments, like a vinegar & baking soda volcano
90. holiday crafts (there is always a holiday around the corner, and starting early on your crafts never hurts!)
91. let the kids frame some photos for their room
92. skype or facetime someone
93. write birthdays on a calendar
94. laminate photos and draw silly mustaches on them with a dry erase marker (or use a plastic page protector)
95. jelly bean portrait (have you seen the portraits at the Jelly Belly factory?)
96. play house (classic)
97. do homework (sometimes when I didn't have homework, my dad would make something up for me to work on)
98. build something with pvc (playhouse, greenhouse, ballet barre, hurdles, doll beds, kid size chairs)
99. sort toys to donate
100. get out of your house - sometimes, just getting out and changing the scenery will appease the kids (and you).  If the weather is not too bad to drive in, look for an indoor attraction like a museum, kids gym, indoor playground, bounce house place or even a mall with a playground.

**Bonus:  You might already know that Pinterest is like, the most amazing website.  You can find science experiments, arts & crafts projects, learning worksheets and just about everything else under the sun.  You can follow Farming in Flip Flops here or my personal account here.