light at the end of the tunnel

It's pretty bad when I have to look at my own blog to remember when the last time was I posted anything. I must say that I'm extremely happy that this month will end in just a couple more days. We went camping this weekend and hit the ground running today. One more week of softball, one more week of Girlscouts and Boyscouts, and only 7 more days of school! I can't tell you how tired and glad I am to have all of these things coming to an end. Pictures to come. For now I've got post-camping laundry to do and lists to make for the rest of my week.

Thirteen years...

Today is my 13th anniversary. We didn't do much to celebrate it. Chris picked me some flowers from our pasture and we spent some time together while the kids were in school last Friday. Our lives have taken a different turn this past year. Whereas in past years we would just do whatever we wanted and not think about the money, where we are at right now, and for the years to come we are more satisfied to just be still. Still in the sense of being in the moment, being happy with what we have, and feeling like we've gotten to a place in our lives where just knowing that we are still building a life together is enough.

When I think back on what we've done in 13 years it seems like so much. At the same time, it seems like a drop in the bucket on what we have left to do. I guess for now I'll just live in the moment. The rest seems to overwhelming! I think I'm feeling intimidated with life. Good thing I have someone to go through it with. Happy Anniversary Honey! I love you.

Major ramble day

I'm framing the calendar for the month of May...not because there were lots of great things happening, but more for the fact that I made it through!!! There is more ink than paper on that thing. As I was feeling overwhelmed this week I was reminded to slow down and focus on the importance of being a mom and LISTENING to what is needed at home. I've had a couple of instances during bedtime where I kind of snapped and then realized instead of getting upset that they were stalling, I need to forget how knock down drag out tired I am and go listen to their complaints and get that drink of water, put that ointment on that scratch, and just be their mom. Yesterday I was pulling the garage door down manually before I got in my car to go to work. The motor took a dump and we haven't replaced it. I pulled and let go, watching it come down. I heard a terrible scream and saw our cat Molly HANGING from the top of the frame of the door caught inbetween the garage door and the header on the top of the frame by her head. I screamed and wedged my fingers under the door to lift it up and she fell to the ground. Then, as cats do, she took off. I caught up with her and didn't see any visible signs of injury. She was one hurt kitty though so I made her a little bed and drove to work, crying about how I could have just killed my son's cat. She is no ordinary cat. This cat, and I've been around quite a few in my lifetime, is ONE COOL CAT. She is so mellow and follows us around outside like a dog. If you're outside, she's right there with you. I watch my 2 kids get pretty upset when I had to tell them why we needed to be very gentle with her for a couple of days. We did get her to eat some wet food this morning and she wanted to go outside in the sun to sleep. Whew! Unless something swells up I'm thinking I just used up about 5 of her lives. I bet she won't sleep on top of the garage door when it's open anymore. Then I had to take my daughter to the Dr this morning. We've been treating her foot for ring worm for a few months and her Dr finally referred us to a Dermatologist to diagnose what she really has. We found out it's an auto immune response and can take up to 3 or 4 years to go away. Here's the kicker. SOMETIMES it can mean they are predisposed to diabetes and thyroid problems. Damn. "Does your family have a history of either of those things?" "Uh, yeah, both things on either sides, I believe." I knew what the next step was...BLOOD WORK. I start to sweat. Amanda is clueless, as she's never had bloodwork done before. We went straight over to the lab and she started to panic as I was telling her what they were going to do. Long story short, she did a great job. She didn't melt down until I got her back to school. Then she just wanted to go home. Once again, even with all of the stress of the month, I've learned to just focus on the moment with my family and give them what they need from me. Then I melted after she stopped crying when I got home. Time for caffeine. I still have a boy scout troop to prepare for and softball practice to get to. Good thing their music teacher understood why we just wanted to stay home after school yesterday to pet our hurt kitty. Sometimes things just have to give a little and time at home always gets me back on track. Now to prepare for the girlscouts spending the night here on Saturday night...I need meds...

busy weekend

The weekend proved to completely wear me out. I spent Saturday, ALL DAY, at a CPR first aid class. I came home to a cooked meal, a miniature rose plant on the table, and cards from the kiddos. They also got me the next book in the Twilight series that I'm almost ready to start. Yeah! It was a wonderful thing to come home to. I got a glimpse of what Chris feels when he comes home and I have dinner on the table waiting for him. He'd be satisfied with a beer in place of the rose plant though. Sunday I woke early and made breakfast. Then it was time to head outside to start the garden planting. I'm a bit of a bull in a china closet when I get started on a project. I do it until it's done. Chris kept trying to get me to sit down and have some sangria with him but I really just wanted to take the time I'd set aside and get all of my seed starts and seeds in the ground. He doesn't know what's on my calendar for the next couple of weeks, but I do and yesterday was the day to get the garden done. Are you ready??? I planted, butternut, zuchinni, crookneck, cucumber, watermelon, cantalope, 2 different types of onions, peas, corn, bell peppers, jalapenos, 38 tomato plants in 3 different varieties, herbs, and green beans. Whew! I get tired just thinking about it, which is why there aren't any pictures. My arms were too tired to lift up my camera!!! Today I'm clearing out a planter box before work and planting 2 hydrangeas Richard gave me. I need to get them in before it gets too hot!!!

Maybe when more of the little green shoots are showing I'll take some pictures. If everything goes well we'll probably be having picking parties too!

Local living history field trip

Amanda had a field trip planned where they had to dress like early settlers in our area. We set out to get a pattern and fabric for her costume. They had to bring their lunches in baskets or pails and were asked to not bring plastic anything. We had lemonade in canning jars and everything wrapped in waxed paper. She even made me unwrap my string cheese and re wrap it in waxed paper. I pointed out that there were lots of kids with bags of chips and containers of yogurt that weren't following instructions. She just gave me the "look" as if I'd gotten the memo and was required to comply.


I was in charge of helping the kids (40 of them) make leaving dolls and button spinners. Next time I'm doing the baking or laundry! I kept trying to tell the rowdy boys that they weren't following the guidelines for how they were to act as if in 1859. Yes maam, no maam, ladies first??? Hello???

We conned grandma into helping in the baking section since her teacher didn't get enough volunteers.

Amanda said she wished it was still like it used to be in the 1800's. I said yeah, except for the whole hygiene thing. Well, maybe the long sleeve and full skirt rule too. I can already feel that I'd have been the rebel not riding side saddle and maybe rolling up my sleeves when it was 100 degrees and I had to go churn butter or water the crops or chop off a chicken head...

Garden preparation

We are working (royal we) on getting the garden ready to plant this Spring. The chickens REALLY enjoy all of the fresh dirt. They follow Chris around as he's rototilling and raking. Sophie follows the chickens around...but she's not eating dirt...

We (royal again) put up a nice big fence around the chicken yard and garden that will eventually be split down the middle, giving the girls and guys a bigger henyard. Next year will be a new coop!

Now to just find time to plant...

Ready, set, no go.

We made goodies for Easter and Grandma's house. I made the kids "sushi" Aunt Patty style. It's the only sushi I'd eat large quantities of. They even had rice in them!

Here are my seaweed wraps and wiggly centers. We also made homemade oreo cookies.

We worked hard on our Easter eggs. It was really difficult going any buying store bought eggs since I have LOTS of eggs already, but brown eggs don't really color well.

Then, no more pictures of Easter. It went downhill the next day and I pouted on the couch with a sick kid the rest of the weekend!!!!!

Hola!

Has it really been since Easter since I posted any pictures? Wow! Softball practice and games, field trips, Dr and Orthodontist appointments and work on the property has completely consumed my days! Amanda was sick over Easter weekend so we had a quiet Easter at home. Here are some pictures of Evan pre and post haircut. He decided he'd let Marcy cut his hair. He was afraid I'd get the clippers out! He fell asleep on the way home and Amanda couldn't stop laughing. He was all twisted up. Ugh. Look at the hair down around his ears! Thank goodness he gave in!!!

We actually went down to Marcy's house to make chocolate dipped peanut butter eggs before Easter. Amber REALLY likes chocolate! Gee, I wonder where she gets that from???