Minecraft and splitting wood

 Daniel splitting wood. My strong boy is 10 and he can nail it! He is better than I am by a long shot!

Gigi loves Minecraft and has been a Yogscast fan since for a long while now. Here is a song  for Simon and Lewis by her when she was 5 years old. She still watches their videos almost daily.

My sweet children and what happens when you are sweet to them.

Everyday I am witness of incredible acts of sweetness by my children. Sometimes to me, sometimes to dad, sometimes to each other and many times to all.

Last night when I was going to bed I asked Daniel if he was hungry and wanted something to eat before I went to bed. He said he wanted something and I was heading down the stairs when he gave me a big hug and thanked me.
This morning Gigi is not feeling well. Daniel came downstairs from his room and she said she was not feeling good in a very distressed voice. He said to her that she could come and stay in the top of his bunk bed if she wanted.  It was really sweet and she is gone upstairs with him and very happy about it.
Daniel and Gigi have so many great sibling moments !  It is really amazing.

Gigi is one that will turn to the cashier in the supermarket and tell her she has beautiful hair or that she likes her earrings. She also will give me or dad massages if we need.

Both my children are very sensitive to how I talk to them and can get very offended and sad if I am not being nice to them.  I also have become much more able to stop before I say something harsh when I have a knee jerk reaction and take a deep breath and make a better choice in how I act and react towards them.

These pictures were taken last winter with the little snow we got.  Daniel helped Gigi make a snowcalf and dad helped Daniel make a snowman. Sweetness all around the family!

The more sweetness I  bring into my home by my tone of voice and the way I treat my kids and husband, the sweeter our lives are.  I should come here everyday and  write all that down so I never forget and take it for granted.

Goodbye Honey

Goodbye little pony. You were the best pony a little girl , and a big one, could have.
I will miss your sweet brown eyes and how much you talked to us.
I will miss your gentleness and how much you loved your little girl.

Here is the link to  more Honey!

and when we were thinking of getting her to our home!

And this is a sweet video of her and Gigi

Honey passed December 1st when she had several Gran Mal seizures. She was old. By the time the vet called back she was gone. I was with her and she was not alone. I am glad she went fast.

My 12 Days of Christmas

Inspired by a friend this is my sweet life with my kids:

On the first day of Christmas my children gave to me...
… One Mac & Cheesee for mom who was busy.

On the second day of Christmas my children gave to me...
… two making mom's bed together, One Mac & Cheesee for mom who was busy.

On the third day of Christmas my children gave to me...
… three times more love, two making mom's bed togeth

er, One Mac & Cheesee for mom who was busy.

On the fourth day of Christmas my children gave to me...
…four pictures taken, three times more love, two making mom's bed together, One Mac & Cheesee for mom who was busy.

On the fifth day of Christmas my children gave to me...
… five art pieces, four pictures taken, three times more love, two making mom's bed together, One Mac & Cheesee for mom who was busy.

On the sixth day of Christmas my children gave to me...
... six funny stories to share, five art pieces, four pictures taken, three times more love, two making mom's bed together, One Mac & Cheesee for mom who was busy.

On the seventh day of Christmas my children gave to me...
...seven sweet sibling moments, six funny stories to share, five art pieces, four pictures taken, three times more love, two making mom's bed together, One Mac & Cheesee for mom who was busy.

On the eighth day of Christmas my children gave to me...
...eight can I help you clean, seven sweet sibling moments, six funny stories to share, five art pieces, four pictures taken, three times more love, two making mom's bed together, One Mac & Cheesee for mom who was busy.

On the ninth day of Christmas my children gave to me...
… nine big smiles, eight can I help you clean, seven sweet sibling moments, six funny stories to share, five art pieces, four pictures taken, three times more love, two making mom's bed together, One Mac & Cheesee for mom who was busy.

On the tenth day of Christmas my children gave to me...
...ten baked brownies, nine big smiles, eight can I help you clean, seven sweet sibling moments, six funny stories to share, five art pieces, four pictures taken, three times more love, two making mom's bed together, One Mac & Cheesee for mom who was busy.

On the eleventh day of Christmas my children gave to me...
… eleven sweet words of appreciation, ten baked brownies, nine big smiles, eight can I help you clean, seven sweet sibling moments, six funny stories to share, five art pieces, four pictures taken, three times more love, two making mom's bed together, One Mac & Cheesee for mom who was busy.

On the twelfth day of Christmas my children gave to me...
...twelve hugs and kisses, eleven sweet words of appreciation, ten baked brownies, nine big smiles, eight can I help you clean, seven sweet sibling moments, six funny stories to share, five art pieces, four pictures taken, three times more love, two making mom's bed together, One Mac & Cheesee for mom who was busy.
Alex Polikowsky

Money and Fire.

Helping unload some fire wood,  Daniel found a sword!

Mommy is funny!!!

And a gun!!!!

Monday he gave me his $20 dollar bill when he saw I needed money and said:

"You can keep it."

Interview me!

I had forgotten about this interview I gave over 3 years ago Unschooling on a Dairy Farm

http://homeschoolingisfreedom.blogspot.com/2009/06/unschooling-on-dairy-farm-alexs.html

Ocarina of Time

Our own Link playing his Ocarina.

Daniel purchased this Ocarina 3 years ago at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival.

Fall and Grapes

Gigi and I visited the beautiful Firefly Berries for some Concord Grapes and a bit of what was left of their raspberries.
Gigi got to pick grapes and raspberries on a gorgeous Fall day.
We made some grape jam that turned out amazing!

and this is back at home !!!

The back of our house seen from the calf barn.

Big Red Calf

Our first red calf was born  this Fall at the farm! he is so cute. He is now called Einstein by his new owner who was very happy to take him home!!!!
Have a good life Einstein!

A Gift and Cutting Corners

So Gigi's cousin Emily helped us be able to go to the World Dairy Expo. She did chores for Brian and fed and took care of all the baby calves. Gigi bought her a little gift there as a thank you. She wrote her a thank you note and wrapped up the present.
Thanks Emily!!

So here is Gigi having horseback riding lessons with Kelly Neu at Hope Ranch. She loves it and has been doing them since she was 5. Last week she was working with Dee in the round pen and Kelly was showing her how to do it:
Kelly:" Gigi make sure she is not cutting corners!"
Gigi: "It is a round pen! There are no corners!"
Kelly teaches 6th grade and she is always telling me things that Gigi says that most her students do not know, she tells me.

Here is my awesome boy Daniel. He is getting his Second Molars at only 10 years old. Why do hey grow so fast?

World Dairy Expo 2012

Gigi has been really wanting to go to the World Dairy Expo in Madison , WI.
She also wanted to go to a sale so we thought we could drive there on Friday and stay for the World Classic Holstein Sale.
It was a great day. Gigi can't wait to go back next year.
MDaniel spent the day with his friend Ryan ( who he met 6 years ago) running around. I think he had a fabulous time and reconnected with a great kid. He is getting so big and it is hard for me to see him spread his wings, as I am a worrier! But he was pretty great checking in and finding his way around the big show grounds.