A Farm Girls Musings

Child Labor Regulations Proposal

2012-02-09T16:46:00.000-08:00

Lately there has been a lot of press about the proposed child labor laws that the Department of Labor is trying to implement. These will affect farm families immensely! Please read this article Will My Children Be Allowed to Farm. Watch the YouTube Video. Please inform the Department of Labor that we want this proposal stopped!!

Lunch Time

2012-02-07T15:32:00.000-08:00

So today has been a rare day.
(besides the planting weather we've had in February....it's odd!)
So today Koda actually was able to come home for lunch!
So I thought I'd so something different for us and have chicken salad sandwiches.
I like them.
Plus I needed to make sure my recipe tastes good for Erica's bridal shower.
Well, it was a total flop!!
The food was great! I loved it.
The other three people in my house...not so much.
Melody is on my side (hey I'm #1 in her eyes right now)
So I made them some chicken quesadilla's.
I ate some too.
Delicious!!!!
It was approved by the other three....go figure....

12 things about Farming

2012-02-03T22:25:00.000-08:00

I came across this article called 12 Most Notable Things You Didn't Know About Farming
You should check it out!! He is a crop producer from Indiana. He writes the truth, for he is a farmer!!!
Interesting facts I liked from the article.
2% of the US is involved in production agriculture.
An average American farmer feeds 155 people!!
50 years ago the average farmer fed 25 people!
Farmers are really helping to keep the world go round.
Please share!!

Out of the sewing cave

2012-02-02T19:33:00.000-08:00

Look at what I busted out in a weeks time of mostly sewing.

zebra nursing cover

Poka -dot nursing cover

Car seat cover

Car seat Cover

elastic back

diaper bag

new quilt (i'm farther then this pic shows, but i cant give it away.)

Oh and I made an awesome purse/church bag out of the extra pink zebra stuff. Do I have a pic though, haha no way. So imagine it, until I get a pic. ;)

Guess What??

2012-01-31T19:19:00.000-08:00

I am alive.
My kids are alive.
My husband is alive.
We are all doing great.
Just been not on the computer as much!!
I think I should invest in a Ipad just so I can sit in my bed and do a quick post.
Who agrees?
Anyways.
Here's some awesome pics of our life lately.

Tramp Jumping in January...what the heck?

A Sunday afternoon photo shoot

A small peek into the colors of a new quilt!

She informed me she was going to school.

working on that crawling techique

Uncle Carson's Skiing Hat

First taste of an Oreo.
Oh yes...I'm that awesome of a mom.

A stolen Pizza from her sister

New Pantry.
:)

Never to young to learn solitare

She thinks this is her new jungle gym.

See our life has been busy and lots of fun!!!
Hopefully we get some more moisture before summer hits.

The plan behind the maddness

2012-01-14T10:27:00.000-08:00

So to continue with my goals, here is how I plan on accomplishing some of them and what my end goal needs to be.

Paying off School Loans. I figure I should be able to have these paid for by April 2011. I owe approx 7 steers. -Note on my loans. I am not sorry at all that I have them. I do wish I would've done more at getting scholarships ect., but really I'm glad that I finished college and that I paid for it all. My parents DID NOT pay for it (many people think this, I have no idea why). This is also a part of why I don't feel I should save for my children's future education, I feel they should do it....okay, that's a completely different post...
Paying off Living Scriptures Loan. This should be paid for by May 2011. I owe approx 2 steers.

Eat more home cooked lunches. So far I'm failing at this, I really have a hard time cooking a nice lunch when it is just me and the kids. Breakfast and dinner, no problem! Its lunch time or dinner (when Koda is on nights) that really suffer. But each day is a new day, So each day it is a new goal. One day I'll accomplish it!!
Walk/run Vigorously for 15 mins a day. I made this goal (which somedays I accomplish it others I don't, each day is a new day right?), so I made this goal a goal, for I am terrified that if I end up in a situation that I have to pack my children and all our stuff, out of this hole and up into higher country on my back, I want to be able to do it. Plus it's healthier right?
Attending the Temple once a month. I'm off onto the right track with this. Got my recommend renewed the first of January. I plan on accomplishing this goal by attending the temple each month on our ward temple day. I'm going to go whether Koda can come with me or not, and then on the days he can attend with me, all the better!
Regular FHE, Like I said, each day is a new day.
Study the Book of Mormon. Last year I read it cover to cover for the first time (that I know of). I was going to study gospel principles this year, but I am teaching four 10 year old boys about the Book of Mormon this year, so I'm going to follow along with the lesson plans and study. Already onto lesson 3 and I've learned something new! Crazy.
Read Pride and Prejudice. So this is kind of a crazy one, but I have started this book multiple times, never finished it. I love the movie. So this is just a I can do it goal, just because I can. I have the book downloaded on my phone, so I can read it wherever I'm at. I don't know about you, but I get somewhere and I don't have anything to read, that usually becomes the longest 20 min wait ever! Well now I don't have that excuse! And guess what I'm already on Chapter 8. :)
This quilt is quite the project, but that's ok. It's mine and I'm going to make it perfect! I'd like to have the center finished. Well to this date I'm about 1/3rd of the way through step one of sewing all the strips together. Only 46 strips left.
Organize sewing space, we are getting there. I've been slowly de-cluttering my sewing and crafting stuff. Looking at all sorts of ideas for storing said stuff. :) I'm excited!
Organize storage unit and food storage. I have a C-container just behind my house that I use as a storage unit. Right now it is full of wedding gifts, stuff from our childhood, food storage, clutter that others have given us, ect. Well I believe you should have a food storage (I want an ample one!) Oh yes, I have two deep freezes. One is chock-full of meat. The other one is filled with meat and lots of veggies. I feel I need to do better in my canned food area. But in order to do this I need a much more streamlined organized approach to my storage unit. Therefore Step one DECLUTTER!!!! and that means, all the crap that I may use in the future, is going. I've decided I'm going to let it go and bless somebody else who will use it now. If I need help in the future because I can't afford it, I figure my good deed today will, come back in the form of good karma, and I will get the help I need. Seriously HUGE breakthrough for me. Right now I need organized food storage, so that is the goal I'm working towards! (oh Flylady would be so proud of me :D)
Control Journal (another flylady thing). Pretty much just a more streamlined approach to cleaning. I really recommend getting the daily emails from Flylady. She sends a ton, and I wouldn't read them all, (unless you want too!) but the Daily Missions is the important thing! They really help you to stay ontop of your crazy house, and guess what, only 15 mins a day!!! That is what I like about Flylady, also I'm glad I already had many of the babysteps in place or at least taught to me (thanks mom) even though she didn't know she does them. The missions are just like a little more help...okay enough.
72 hour kits assembled. Pretty self explanatory. Really I have almost everything, I just need to put them together.

I hope all is going well and on course in your goals this year!!

Time for new goals

2012-01-01T19:31:00.000-08:00

2012
A new year.
A new clean slate to start anew.
Haha I wish some days!
But I am going to be making some goals.
I have quite the list.
Hopefully I can get them done!!!
Last year I succeeded in getting three of the four goals I actually wrote down accomplished.
(That's more then I thought, Go ME!)
Here is what I wrote last year.
Here is what I'm striving for this year.

Finances:

Pay off School Loans
Pay off Living Scriptures Loan (don't ask, I'm really ticked about this one!)

Health/Body:

Eat more home cooked/prepared Lunch meals
Walk/run (vigorously for 15 mins a day)

Spiritual

Temple once a month
Regular FHE
Study Book of Mormon

Personal

Read Pride and Prejudice
Finish top center of MY quilt

Organization

Sewing/craft space
Food Storage/storage unit
Control Journal
72 hour kits assembled

Now that I have an idea of what goals I'm going to do, I need to create them into SMART goals, like a professor in college taught me.

I can't remember the what the acronym SMART stands for exactly but I do remember that the goals need to have a specific date, purpose, and person to achieve these goals.

Well, I guess I'd better get to getting the specifics figured out on my goals to make them SMART!

What your New Years Resolutions?

Christmas Time

2011-12-28T20:28:00.000-08:00

Ok I seriously stink at taking pictures of important events!

Our Christmas went well.

Santa stopped by.

Mrs. Clause fixed the gifts all pretty.

Santa slept.

The girls got magnectic dress up dolls, coloring book, reading book, really cute hats, a barbie, plus a few other stocking stuff (bathroom stuff). Daisy got her pink dress she asked for and Page got a stick horse.

Melody's stuffed animal didn't show up.

Because Cousin Cheyenne gave her the EXACT same thing the night before.

Good thing she is only 7 months and doesn't know she kinda got jipped.

They also got farm animals, fences, and a green tractor.

Believe me a huge hit!

Page in her green hat playing with the animals.

Melody and her hat, plus her babies 1st Christmas ornament.

Daisy and her barbie.

Page on Christmas.

Melody in her Christmas outfit and Daisy's hat.

I think she is just ADORABLE!!!

Koda and I fared out well too.

I got his goat by getting him a toy viewfinder aka a fancy spotting scope. I even did the research and found a view of a big elk for him to look at.

He didn't think it was to funny.

hahahha I did.

I got a Bosch Kitchen Mixer.

OH ya I'm happy!!!!

Hope you all had a great Christmas, Bring on the New Year!

My little 2 year old

2011-12-28T20:11:00.000-08:00

Was it really two years ago that Miss Page was born??
Holy cow...I feel like I should still be pregnant with her!
Seriously.
So I totally thought I blogged about her birth and all.
Guess what...did not....
Hmmm.
Anyways.
Dec 23rd was a birthday for us!
Page turned two and had a grand ole time!
Well actually all day long her and Melody both had fevers (later we found out they had hand, foot, mouth viruis yuck!)
By the time the cake and ice cream time rolled around though, she was happier.

We didn't do anything extravagant.

Just had family over for cake and ice cream and to encourage her in opening her presents.
She was of course all about that.
Until present number two and she opened a pony.
She was done!

It took quite a bit of coaxing to get her to consider even looking at another gift.
I guess she only needed that pony!
Anyways enjoy!

Grandmas chatting away

L-R: Grandma Teresa, Dad, Papa, Uncle Carson

Uncle Ty & Joslyn

L-R: Page, Daisy, Sadey, Tanner

Aunt Janessa

Yumm!

Cake Buddies

Man I look good for having three children! Haha they run the weight right off of me!!!

L-R: Papa, Dad, Uncle Ty, Joslyn, Uncle Carson, Grandma Laura

Opening gifts

I'm going to get this pony out, one way or another!

A new snuggie!! Heck Ya!!!

She totally LOVED it

A green hat and a cow from Aunt Janessa and Uncle Cole.
Total win!

Seriously would not take it off.

Playing with the Puppy from Joslyn

New Boots! Thanks Nama and Papa/

Yes, I'm a green hat wearin', Cow ridin', boot wearin' 2 year old!

How she rolls

Page and her birthday haul.

Her birthday cake.
Yes mom made the frosting a little bit to soft.

Daisy, being Daisy.

Happy 2nd Birthday Page Lynn!!

Busy as a bee!

2011-12-18T17:34:00.000-08:00

Oh my heck! What a crazy last little while it has been!!!
I've been super busy (but who isn't??)

Today we had our Visiting Teaching convention.
And let me tell you I'm so glad that is over!!
This is what I want to do! Apparently church was exhausting today. :)

I'm the VT coordinator and for the past three months the Relief Society President and I have been praying, changing, praying, changing, praying....ect, on all the beats. We finally reached a decision and we handed out new beats today!
It was a very powerful meeting.
Simple, but powerful.
Maybe it was only me who was affected, but that's ok if that is the case!

Now it's onto Christmas time!
We have a party Tuesday night, with everyone bringing a mystery less then $5 dollar gift.

Daisy and her mystery gift. I really have no idea what she has in there! Grandma helped her pick it out.

We have a company dinner Thursday night (1st one since we've hired on, usually it's just a I'll buy your drinks from this time to this time at the bar and where'as we don't drink....) it's still at the bar and grill, but hey politics right?? Also that night hopefully we will be able to do a bit of bowling with my family for my sisters birthday.
The 23rd is Miss Pagey's 2nd birthday
(really??? I just had her.....what, I have another child....oh dear....I'm losing it!)
The 24th we are having lunch with Koda's family and then it's Christmas!!!
Yaya!!!

I've still been working on Michelle's stocking for her girl. It is SO cute!!! But really TAKES forever!!!
I tell you what I understand completly why hand sewn stuff is so expensive!

So far there is 36 1/2 hours into it.
Guess what I still have one snowman and a penguin to do!
I'm estimating another 10 hours or so.

Lets see also this week we seen Santa.
The girls actually did really well and we got some awesome pictures.
Guess what.
The camera broke before I got them off!!!!
Oh ya not happy.
But she is still very happy.

Also pictures that we did have and now we don't, is all of the last two weeks of preschool!
Last week we did J is for Jesus from COAH and this week we did a cowboy tot pack from Our Little Monkeys. Daisy LOVED the cowboy pack!! She did all the activities like five times a day! This week I believe we will be doing the Candy Cane Pack from 2teaching mommies.

Anyways I need to go and prepare dinner and get ready for the week. I have one gift to put the finishing touches on, need to wrap all the girls clothes, and my sis & bro in law's gift. Oh and I need to get a snuggie made up for Page's birthday! Busy busy!!!

Signing out! Hope you have a very happy week!

E-Book on Grocery Budgeting

2011-12-07T20:09:00.001-08:00

Seems like a good book to read.I'm always looking for hints on how to cut my grocery budget down.

Birth Control

2011-12-07T18:41:00.000-08:00

I'm going to vent.
So I'm sorry.
Bear with me.

I'm so sick of people ~~asking~~ telling me I'm must be done having children for I have three girls, so close together. It's been proven right? we can't have boys.
Geez.
Just so it's out there, yes we will be having more children and yes the next one will probably show up with in the next two years. We know we are suppose to have more children, so we are going to.

But what do you say to the lady in the fabric store that asks: "so your getting your tube's tied or a vasectomy done right?" (Oh no, I love giving birth, I think I'll do it another 12 or 13 more times)
or "wow....you do know what causes this right?" (no I don't....please give me a detailed explanation)
or "are you crazy?" (no I just smoke a lot of pot)

Really is it anybodies business but our own when we have children or the spacing of them?
So yes I have have 3 kids, 3 and under, a 19 month and then a 16 month separation. Guess what, it's me who has to deal with it.

But I find it very interesting all those who tell me all about different types of birth control, I'm about ready to start replying with, "oh don't worry, I go across the border and get my 25 cent insurance policy there. I'm protected."
or maybe "I do a voodoo dance and smoke ceremony before we do anything. I'm protected."

Once again, isn't it my business what kind of birth control I use or don't use?

Now this is not to say that I don't enjoy talking about this with women who are not scornful or rude about it. I don't mind at all talking about birth control with a nice person, who doesn't belittle me.

Christmas Time, Hip Hip Hoorray!!!

2011-12-04T17:40:00.001-08:00

Winter is here. It's quite cold.. I want to head South.
We all had the stomach flu this week. It has not been fun.
I think we are finally getting over it. Thank Heavens!!

For preschool we did the Owl Pack from Our Little Monkeys.
The girls loved putting together the 10 part puzzle the very most.
It was great to teach the numbers 1-10.
Of course I didn't get any pictures of them working with the pack.

We also put up the Christmas Tree and all the decorations. Which of course means the Elves are here!!
Many of you have probably heard about the Elf on the Shelf.
Well I think the tradition I grew up with is similar? maybe?

Our elves (yes there are many) show up and every night, after the Christmas tree is decorated, to watch you in your daily doings making sure you're being nice not naughty. Then every night they go and report back to Santa and change to a new location in the house. We are up to three elves, they don't have names yet, (the girls are still a little to young to understand naming them) and I believe I have 12 elves total that will come visit us this year (that is if I don't get anymore, hehe).
This is a great fun thing for the young'uns. I loved it has a child and has a teenager, to be honest I was a bit disappointed when they quite showing up at my mom's house as I became a young adult. The magic was gone.

To be dead honest, the years that I left home, got married, and before I had toddlers, kinda stunk during Christmas time. The magic and wonder and amazement just wasn't there. It's coming back into my house and I LOVE IT!!!! I hope my children will keep the spirit and happiness of Christmas as long as I did, for I want it!

I also got some more sewing done this week! I finished up a carseat swaddler blanket for a friend who just had her baby boy.

I also worked on Millie girls Christmas stocking. Turning out way cute! I'm thinking maybe I should make one of these for all my girls. We will see. I did have a minor freak out moment with it though, I thought the light blue thread and turned lime green! Yes I was very worried, I'm thinking now it is the lighting in my house, cause it looks more blue and correct in better light. PHEW!!

Well I'm going to end it here. I've got to still get my week planned, menu planned, shopping trip planned. So when I'm awoken at 6 in the morning tomorrow I can hit the ground running. I love Sundays, the day of rest.

Hope you had a great week and a wonderful Sunday!

Laters.
Me.

Miss Me....I do too!

2011-11-27T19:10:00.001-08:00

So I've been absolutely terrible in keeping up with posting the last little bit.
Yep I admit it, I have a problem.
Well in order to rectify this problem and to keep you all up on life here in our household, I'm going to try and do a weekly post update on everything.
I've just not been feeling the computer lately.
Really just have no desire to even turn it on, so it stays off.
But I don't want to keep all my dedicated readers to get discouraged by me.
And I need to keep a family journal so when the end of the year comes, I have an easy reference to head to for the family album.
Anyways.

*Life this week*
Thanksgiving!
My favorite holiday ever!!!
Great yummy food!
This was a weird year though, I've never not seen my family on Thanksgiving.
Well they all deserted me and my brood for North Dakota, for my sister's and brother in laws reception.
That's ok though, it was a good reason.
I guess I have to grow up some time and strike out on my own someday right?
I also had another first.
Black Friday.

Very entertaining....very....
And yes I did score what I was after.
:)
What else have we been doing?
Selling calves, hauling steers to the butcher, 5 glorious days of Koda having days off, craft fairs, and the state Farm Bureau convention.
Yep its been a lot of fun.

*Girls*
Well Melody is quite the girl.
She wants to crawl, but can only do the superman posture, hasn't figured out the ladybug posture yet.

So to get to something she wants she does a back scoot.
I hope it doesn't wear all her hair off her head!
But it is so cute!!
Random note--None of my girls have been big rollers.
Daisy did it one time and then started crawling.
Page and Melody did/do it a little bit, but not very much.

Page is Daisy's little shadow still.
They are seriously the dynamic duo.
or
They are fighting like banshee's.
Someday's it is exhausting!
Page's hand is doing very welll, and is healing just like it is suppose too.

Daisy is talking more and more in sentences.
It's so fun to hear.
She knows most of the letter sounds, but their names she refuses to divulge.
And the ABC's song....haha...not a chance.
She also is counting everything in sight, (which Page copycats).
OH and in case you didn't know, She's three!

*Sewing Projects*
I've been doing a few projects lately.
Here is a custom apron for a friend of mine.
Darling right???

I'm also making a Christmas stocking for a friend of mine's baby girl.
It's all hand work and has sequins.
It is going to be way cute when I get it done.
Here is what I have accomplished so far.

Two trees.
:) I get to do the third tree tonight.
Guess how many hours already spent on this?
Six and a half.
I've got a long ways to go.

*Current Book*
This is the book I'm currently reading.
I like it so far.

Entertaining, but a light read.
Great for the busy months.

Well hope all is well your way!
And I'll catch back up next Sunday!

T & T's Quilt

2011-11-17T06:00:00.000-08:00

11-5-11
The day Trevor married my sis-in-law Teagan.
Oh man does he have his hands full!!!

So in true loving fashion I sewed them up a snuggle quilt.
I toyed with the idea of doing two smaller snuggle quilts.
But then I remembered....
-They were young
-Newlyweds
-Didn't have children yet
....therefore, 2 quilts was just going to turn into 1.

See for an ole lady like me, with three children, I would definitely take the two quilts and put the husband on the couch and me on the recliner.
I know what happens when the weather is cold outside and there is only one quilt in the house.
;)

Anyways, back to T & T.
They like camo.
They like hunting.
They like green.
They like orange.
So here is their awesome quilt!!

OH and yes there is elk on the back.
Did I get a picture of that.
hahaha no way.

This is also the first quilt I've ever had someone else quilt.
I thought I would feel terrible and guilty about it since I didn't do it all.
But with sewing all the girls dresses too (7 total!)
I sent it out.
And guess what????

I LOVE IT!!!!!

OH ya.....may just do that more often, so much less stressful, and the quilter I used, knows her stuff!!!

Well T & T are now freshly back from their honeymoon.
And Teagan didn't get sequestered in a Mexican Jail (believe me AMAZING!)
But she did get chased by an iguana....I have no idea....frankly I don't think I want to know.....

Sooooo

2011-11-14T15:36:00.001-08:00

I was going to write an awesome post.
I can't remember what it was.
Hmmmm.
I'll try again later.

T is for Turtle

2011-11-14T15:10:00.001-08:00

T is for Turtle!!

We did this over the past two weeks.

Mostly because I was lazy.

hehehehe.

All of our activites came from Letter of the Week program from Confessions of a Homeschooler.

Here the girls (22 mnths & 3.5yrs) are coloring T is for turtle pages.

Here Daisy is doing turtle pre-writing.

This was probably her favorite this week.

Size Sorting.

Getting much better at this one.

I still have to do a lot of talking through it for them though.

Tt sorting.

She knows how to do this very well.

So she thinks she should trick me up and act like she doesn't and always puts the big T on the little t spot and visa versa.

Here in the picture I think she is telling me she needs the camera, not me.

This is my favorite this week.

Here is Daisy's first actual drawing!!!

If you can't tell it's a mermaid and a fish.

The straight lines at the bottom are her fin and then the lines on top are her hair.

Here is her other two mermaids she drew for me.

I think she did quite well. :)

In other news, the girls have discovered the joy of coloring.

And they now think they should color all over EVERYTHING!!!

I've never had this problem.

But I suppose that is because Daisy never wanted to color until recently.

She was to busy jumping off of everything.

So I want to know....what's the best thing to take crayon off?

Oh and yes they help clean up the mess....they think its fun.....

I'm linking up to Tot School!

See what others have been up too!!

Eye Candy

2011-11-11T09:30:00.000-08:00

I just love new fabric.
Really I walk into a fabric store and all my worries are forgotten.

Future Apron

Well until I go to pay for my fabric, and realize I'm once again poor.
Ahh, but the beautful fabric makes me smile.

Diaper Bag

If only I had all the time in the world.
Look at my some projects I need to get done in the next few months.

Nursing Cover

If I only had a ton of money to waste in the store.
~sigh~

Apron

For now I'll just drool in the store.
And limit myself to somewhat realistic measures.

P is for Pumpkins

2011-11-07T19:24:00.000-08:00

I'm apologizing in advance for the less then steller pictures.

I don't know what the deal was.

The week before Halloween we did a P is for Pumpkin week!

It was fun.

Daisy is 3.5 years, Page is 23 Months.

We did coloring pages.

Look at how well Daisy is tracing letters.

This is a VERY recent development.

How exciting!!

I helped Page with her tracing, But she does great too!

Daisy also did the tracing pages great!

She loved doing them and would write, wipe, write, wipe, and on and on.

We also did pumpkin color matching.

I'm working with Page to learn her colors.

It's pretty easy, especially with older sister giving her the answer. :)

We also made a pumpkin craft.

In other words, we drew some circles, cut them out, glued them down, cut the stems, glued them down and wrote P is for Pumpkins.

Lot of work for mom.

But they enjoyed it!

Daisy also did all of her own circles and cut most of them out.

Truly I'm amazed, for a month ago, no way.

They also had lots of fun with Do-A-Dot pages.

They really enjoy making the letters.

They also like to just have free form dot painting.

Go figure.

They also got out the cupcake felt activity bag that we got from a swap hosted here.

Didn't they do really good at making their own cupcakes? Especially with no help from me!!

We are linking up to TotSchool! Check out what others have been up to!

We used the P is for Pumpkin from the Letter of the Week by Confessions of a Homeschooler.

Halloween!!

2011-11-02T20:35:00.000-07:00

We had such a fun Halloween this year.
The girls got to be dressed up all day long!
They were the three little ladybugs.
Adorable right??

We went grocery shopping & Daisy's dance class.
And then the main event trick-or-treating!!
We visited Grandma L in the care center.

Nama at work, Grandma S at her house.
Came home, unloaded the groceries, made some scones, and headed to our wards trunk-or-treat.

Which was a total BLAST!!!
We then went and seen Grandma Teresa and Grandpa Scott.
And on the way home they fell asleep.
:)

Koda and I had a wonderful long conversation about everything!
Seriously one of the best nights ever!!!
Next morning I woke up cleaned the house, did the laundry, and finished the flower girl dress I was making for my SIL's wedding!

I know I'm late and everyone is onto gratitude thoughts, but
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

An Apple Story

2011-10-27T06:00:00.000-07:00

So I gave the girls some apples to snack on today.

They were smaller Gala apples, perfect size for little girls.

Daisy ate this much.

Page ate this much.

Are they really sisters?

Our Wildlife Week

2011-10-23T20:05:00.000-07:00

In honor of hunting season we did a wildlife tot pack this week for preschool.
We used the pack from Our Little Monkeys.
The girls loved it, plus the knew what all the animals were, we see them all the time!

Daisy enjoyed doing the animal puzzles, animal matching, animal letter flashcards. She also had fun acting out what each animal was like.
She also did very good on the tracing pages this week. Her pencil grip is getting better and her coordination is vastly improving. She also is retaining so much more information then I thought possible. Guess I'm not setting my sight high enough.
Page is doing all these, but her attention span is now where long enough and she sometimes just wants to build with the blocks. So I let her! :)
We are also still reading Charlotte's Web and I have to say, each time they sit just a little bit longer and pay attention a little bit more. It's nice.

Sorry didn't get many pictures this week.
Dad com-endeared the camera to take pictures of his elk he got.

We are linking up to tot school.

Ordered my Cards Today!

2011-10-21T09:08:00.001-07:00

Joy Dots Chocolate Holiday

Create personalized holiday cards online at Shutterfly.com.

View the entire collection of cards.

Guilty Confession # 33

2011-10-20T09:30:00.000-07:00

My guilty confession of the week.
I sometimes buy little boy clothes or material.

:)
Hopefully it won't come around and bite me in the behind.

Crazy Wonderful Life

2011-10-18T22:06:00.000-07:00

In Pictures.

Mel Bell On Picture Day

Three Girls, Three Personalities

Loving the stroller Riding

Farm Kid--Knows opening the gate is a waste of time, since you have to close it again

This is what you do once you tear your room apart.
Sleep.

Melody's Christmas Present.
Hehe It's so cute!!!

Climbing up high to the tippy top of the fuel tanks.

Rumor has it Uncle Cole will be home soon!!
Crossing our fingers!!!

Mud Galore.
2 girls.
1 week.
17 pairs of pants.
A tired mom.

Swinging at the park

Oh ya, Mom is the center of the universe!

Hard Core Fishing

Feeding horses apples

Little Diva Girl.

Slacker

2011-10-18T21:36:00.000-07:00

Yep thats me.
:)
Oh you didn't notice I was gone?
Phew....
So Happy.
Nah I've been in super mode.
Decluttering, cleaning, getting ready for winter.
That kinda thing.
I'm thinking it will probably go on for a little bit.
I'm hoping I can get my storage unit organized before snow hits.
But where I'm from snow could hit....
....tomorrow and not leave until.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................next April.
Go figure....

Hope your having a great fall!

Dinosaur Quarry trip with the YF&R

2011-10-10T21:17:00.000-07:00

We woke up Saturday to a winter wonderland.
The first of October.
Yuck.

Well we went to our Young Farmer and Rancher Social.
Not many showed up, just us die hard's.

We went to the Dinosaur Quarry to see the bones in the hillside.
It's been quite a while since I've been up to the quarry, sad since my parents live around the bend from it basically.

Well, and it's been closed for the past five years.
It is now opened again after renovations, so admission was free for the past few weeks.

So here are some fun pictures from our visit!
Yes I realize that all the snow is melted in the pictures...but believe me it covered everything, until it melted.
I'm thinking we need to go and visit the field house soon.

The girls would love that!

Schedules, Hands, 4wd, and Julie Andrews

2011-10-08T21:09:00.000-07:00

Life has been crazy!
Which I guess is really normal for us.
Koda is actually working a kind of schedule.
10 days.
5 off.
10 nights.
We are on the sucky side of that schedule.
Blah.
This past week we didn't get any scheduled preschool in.
But we did get to spend wonderful time with our daddy and husband.
We also had a checkup for Miss Page.
All is healing well.
Maybe within a year to eighteen months her hand will look better.
I'm mostly excited that the next trip to the city is in 3 months instead of 1.
The weather here has been CRAPPY!
Like as in it froze the other night.
Snow this morning.
Mud everywhere.
To visit me you must have 4wd.
Dead serious.
I hate the mud!!!
But on a happier note.
I've been on a Julie Andrews kick.
Sound of Music, watched last night.
Mary Poppins, tonight.
Princess Diaries, tomorrow?
Hmmmm what's some of your favs?

I'm going to go to bed.
Night to you all!

A is for Apple

2011-10-02T09:13:00.000-07:00

"The A says ahhh
The A says ahh
Every letter makes a sound the A says ahhh"

I've heard that song all week long.
Yes my girls LOVE the movie Leap Frog Letter Factory.

So as you can guess we learned about A this week.

Our week consisted of,
Aa sorting/matching.
Aa Do-a-dots, we actually got some bingo markers at the $1 Store, they did really good with them!
A is for Apple coloring page, Daisy actually traced the Aa for the first time! I'd say she did pretty darn good.
Apple pre-writing pages.
Read The adventures of Abby Alligator.
Mini Book Who Ran Away.
And A vocab cards.
Starfall.
And Letter Factory!!!

We also read 10 Apples up on Top by Dr. Suess and did apple print painting, drew a picture with 10 apples on our heads, and tried to have 10 apples...umm really 1 apple on our head.

Our theme this month is Fall!

So we did a Fall tot book and had a fall themed sensory tub.

Also to go with our Fall theme we started reading Charlotte's Web.

They really enjoyed this week and so did I!

Next up L is for Leaves!!

Resources from these places.

Confessions of a Homeschooler

1+1+1=1

Counting Coconuts

Starfall

Linking to these parties.

Preschool Corner

Tot School

Panties in a Bin

2011-09-29T07:48:00.000-07:00

This is our panty bin in our bathroom.

This helps Daisy to change her underwear quickly if any changes are needed.

Plus it keeps all the clothes drawers intact.

Also a fun little book for her to read when she potties if she wants too.

It's so nice to have all the potty training and diapering in one place.

Makes life easy for this busy momma.

What are your little tricks for potty training?

Cover for a lil' cowboy

2011-09-28T14:12:00.000-07:00

I made a cover for Lacie back in August.

Sorry couldn't find the picture.

So she later contacted me

about making a carseat cover for her friend.

It was for a little cowboy.

I found this AWESOME material!

I LOVE it!!!

So I went back to get some more....guess what all gone....

I'm sad....

But I think it turned out really cute!

Z is for Zebra

2011-09-25T20:50:00.000-07:00

The girls are 40 & 21 months

Z is for Zebra puZZle time.

Z is for Zebra graphing.

Z is for Zesty cows and dogs.

And little cowgirls herding them.

Z is for Zebra magnet page.

Oh but its funner to do it with stickers.

Z is for Zebra coloring page.

With pencils of course

Z is for 5 little princess's Zipping rocks in the creek.

Z is for ZZZZzzzzz.......

Which mom needs ASAP.

Night ya'll.

Party'z at these links.

Preschool Corner

Tot School

Resources from these links. (Not all shown!)

Confessions of a Homeschooler.

1+1+1=1

DLTK kids.

Our Fun Life

2011-09-21T16:14:00.000-07:00

Look at what we've been doing!

Putting Makeup on Melody.
Totally done while mom was putting water on the garden.

A new Quilting Project.
:)

Planting some flowers.

New pink boots for Melody

Pouring rice all over the living room.
Thank heavens for vacuums!

Being princesses at Crystal's baby shower

Throwing rocks into the creek.
yes Kasey that's your pup!

Playing in the sand.

Climbing gates and fences.
Not a challenge at all for miss Daisy Mae.

Feeding Larry's horses.

Dressing myself.
Mom has no idea what the smirky attitude is all about.

This is how Page rolls.

Isn't our life fun???
We think so!!

Diaper Bags are Awesome

2011-09-20T16:03:00.000-07:00

Or at least the ones I make are.
Or so I'm told.

Michelle's Diaper Bag

My friend put her order in to have me make her a diaper bag back when I made mine in April.
Only she added in plenty of extras.
Which was just fine.
It made me think and learn some new things.

Pockets and Zippered Divider inside

I'm so happy with how they've turned out!
So are a lot of other girls.
I've had lots ask about them.

Divider pulls out.

I need to find a price to charge per hour so I can make a tiny bit of profit.
I mean Michelle's diaper bag took 9 hrs to make.
I also made her a cute car seat cover.

Car seat cover

This is another thing that is in high demand.
Yet another reason to find a small price to charge.
I love making them and I love doing custom work.
I want to make people happy with what I can make them.

Yes I take pictures on my tramp with my totally awesome kid pool in the background. So sue me.

So what do you think?
Aren't they cute?
What amount should I place upon my time?
I don't know.

PS The tutorial I kinda follow for the diaper bag is found at Moda Bake Shop.

Caught in a pickle kinda day.

2011-09-17T12:07:00.000-07:00

That's what yesterday was.
This is how yesterday was suppose to go.
Wake up
Shower, dress, cook breakfast, clean up breakfast.
Preschool all by 10:00.
Go to store get items needed to put up cucumbers.
Pick up the cucumbers.
11:00 start pickling cucumbers.
Finish about 3:00.
Have wonderful lunch and dinner right on time.
House picked up.
Happy kids.
Happy husband.
Happy dogs.
Happy me.
Bedtime of a glorious and wonderful 10:00pm.

But......
Life is life I didn't get started on the pickles until 3:00.
Ran out of spices.
Husband said he would get them.
He can't find them.
I should've went to the store.
I call everyone in the known universive for said spices.
My mother has some and she is coming into town....later.
She lives 30 mins from town.
So I continue on with my pickling adventure.
Then I wait for her and pray she has enough spices.
Finally 7:30pm I get the spices from her, I pull out my last batch of bread and butter pickles. Now I can start on the sweet ones, and I had to change midstream and make some dill pickles.
I cook dinner.
Daisy goes out in the dead of the night to inform dad supper is ready.
Oh yes its 8:45.
I finally get my last batch of pickles in.....
Alas...I forgot to put the dill in with the dill pickles, the water is already boiling.
Screw it, they will be a eat as is type. Big deal!
Finally 11:30 house is picked up, dishes done, almost everyone is a asleep (Page is fighting it something bad!)
Finally at midnight she is asleep I lay down my head.

And....
Page starts puking.....

Tell me about it....WAY LONG NIGHT!!!!

But hey my pickles look pretty darn good.
And I have a zillion of them.
I'm proud of myself.

Next up tomatoes!

M is for Monkey

2011-09-17T11:53:00.000-07:00

The girls are 20 months & 39 months.
We learned all about M this week.
Monkey, Moon, Mango, Motorcycle, Mailbox, Macaroni, Mouse, Moose, Milk, & Mirror.
Do-a- Dots, Coloring Pages, Monkey Building, Monkey Shape Matching.

Letter Mm Matching, Monkey Puzzles.
M&M Monkey Page, Playing with Cousins, Finger Painting.

We had lots of fun!!
Starfall, Letter Learning Factory, Reading books.
Thing I find very interesting, Miss Daisy--Doo won't tell me the what the "letter" name is example: M is M but she tells me M is Mmmm...The phonetic sound. Thats good right?

Daisy also colored in her kitty coloring book. I was amazed that she actually did specific coloring, she has never done this before! She has gone around all week, showing everyone what she has colored, and each part of the cat that she has colored. It's so cute!

We watched these videos and sung along!
5 little Monkey's Song
Veggie Tales Monkey Silly Song

Resources used from these places.
1+1+1=1
Confessions of A Homeschooler

Linking Up to these parties.
Preschool Corner
Tot School

Over Abundance of Peppers

2011-09-14T22:32:00.000-07:00

Did you know,
Three Anaheim Chili Pepper plants will produce 62 Anaheims in about a week?
Mine do.

(Ok actually there was more peppers, but I did give some away)
From those 62 Anaheims, it took me all day to wash, chop, and measure them out to freeze.
(Hey give me a break! I have 3 kids, a husband, 2 dogs plus a puppy to keep an eye on)

Anyways, 62 Anaheims when finely chopped equals 33 quarter cups.
Or 8 1/4 cups of chopped peppers.
Yep, my house smelt good.
I'm thinking salsa time!!!

Guess what else....
This is the third time I've done this, this summer.
Oh man do I have the peppers in my freezer.

We won't even get started on the Jalapenos and the Bell Peppers.

What's your favorite kind of pepper?
I ask, I'd like to know.

I once was a pepper hater....but I'm coming around, in a big way!

Crazy Me

2011-09-12T17:57:00.000-07:00

Did you miss me???
I've gone crazy.
Haha.
Really I've just been way busy!!
Normal everyday stuff.
Canning.
Attempting to move three girls into one room.
Cooking.
Drs. Appts (btw I'm SICK of dr appts!!!)
A few days ago I posted on FB that I was always 2 days behind on my to-do list.
Well I think it has escalated to four.....
Go figure!
Today I spent all day running around!
Dentist Appointment.
Daisy Dance Class.
Shopping for Material for T&T's wedding.
57 Days...I'd better get to sewing on the little girls dresses for it.
As in....7 little dresses.
Yep I'm CRAZY....

But hey Look at how pretty my Zucchini Jam Turned out!!!

Yes you heard me right Zucchini!!
Its delicious, if you want the recipe I'll send it to you just email me!!!
OH that reminds me I have a loaf of Zucchini Bread in the Jeep my mom left me.
I'd better go get it.
Don't you Love Zucchini season???

It's big around here and probably the only time people lock their car doors at church.

Hehe...I've never done that....hehe......

Have a Great Day!!!
Hopefully I'll soon get back into the swing of this and post a bit more!!!
Maybe once I'm not so busy and not so tired all the time.

Ok, Now Have a Great Day!!!

:)

H is for Hippo

2011-09-12T17:47:00.000-07:00

Oh man this week has been crazy busy!!
We did get a bit of schooling in.
The girls are 20 months and 39 months.
Our focus this week was the letter H.

We did printables from COAH & 1+1+1=1.
Hippo puzzles,letter sort, size sort, Hh do-a-dot, cutting practice, H is for Hippo coloring page, H vocab cards, Hearts and Hands mini book,and read Hide-n-Seek Hippo.
I know I have more pics...but who knows where they are.

The girls helped me lots around the house this week, with dishes, mopping, cleaning mirrors, ect.
We also had a blast playing in the sprinklers at Nama's house.

We also went to the park.
I go to the school playground, when school is out.
Best idea ever!!
Daisy did a lot of swinging and sliding, Page did lots of "hanging upside down", & Melody had tummy time! And Me I took pictures and tried to do the monkey bars.
Ya I'm outta shape...
So what did your kids do this week educationally?

Linking up here Tot School and Preschool Corner.

We Live Here

2011-09-05T20:18:00.000-07:00

Guess what.
My house is still a disaster.
But hey at least once a week each room is clean.
For a few short hours.
I honestly never knew this would bother me the way it does.
Oh well....So goes live.
So this is my new favorite saying.

I want it.
Mostly so I can see it and remind myself to get off my back about things.
Oh ya I pinned it.
Love pintrest.
Don't you?

E is For Elephants

2011-09-03T10:28:00.000-07:00

Right now the girls are 39 months & 20 months
This week we learned all about the Letter E.
Elephants, Envelopes, Eyes, Ears, Erasers, Eagles,.....
You get the point.
Anyways we had fun doing all these everyday.
Reading, Mini Book, and Vocab Cards.
I didn't do a sensory bin.
I was having a stressed kinda week.
I hate them kind.
Anyways, I for sure am going to get my act together and get another sensory bin ready for Letter H next week!
So a look at our week.

Monday & Tuesday

Did Playdough "E" Mats.
Read The Enormous Elephant Show.
Colored by number E is for Elephant.
Cut and Pasted Elephant Patterning Activity.
Sitckered our Do-a-dot Ee page.
Letter E craft.
Read mini book and reviewed vocab cards.
And Daisy informed me she was going to sleep outside like a dog.
What a girl.

Wednesday

We read Elmer the Elephant and did an art activity.
Summary~Elmer is a patchwork elephant and is always keeping the elephants laughing. One day he colors himself elephant color. Finds out it is boring.Then it rains and he becomes patchwork again. Elephants think it was the best joke ever. So they decide to celebrate it every year by coloring themselves all sorts of colors and Elmer goes Elephant color.~

This was a really cute story and the girls loved it.
Cousin Tanner was visiting so he got to join in the fun!
He and Daisy did the art activity, we used the cut and paste elephant from COAH.
Page was busy putting things in and out of her toy car so she didn't join in.
That's awesome though! Good fine motor for her!
Daisy and Tanner also wanted to play with the play dough.
So we pulled it out and played with it,
wrote our names,
and everyone we know names as well.
It was fun!
Side note-Tanner is a month away from being 5 years old, Daisy is 3 and a few months, it was amazing to see the difference in interpreting and responding to the activities between the two of them.
Makes me excited for more interaction has she gets older.
Even so with her sista's!
One day it won't just be me talking to myself....right?

Thursday--out for a check up for Page.

She now has her totally awesome bull ridin' glove.
She gets to wear if for a whole year.
Lucky her.
At least it will stop the scarring from being terrible.

Friday--Zoo Theme Day.

We did activities more featured towards the zoo.
(usually we will do this on Thursday)
I think....
Anyways, we were going to do size sorting...but she just wanted to talk about the "baby".
We read "What is Tarzan?" Mini Book.
Vocab Cards from the Jungle and the Zoo
Read our E mini book and vocab cards.
Matched the lower case and upper case letters to do with our theme this month. (E, H, M, Z)
Did number and counting practice.
Page just like pulling the numbers off.
Velcro is SO awesome when your almost 2.
Watched a movie from the library on a musical tour of the San Diego Zoo.

Saturday

Today we did numerous counting activities with Elephant counting cards.
Practiced pre-writing.
An animal matching game.
Ee sort.
Read Chicka-Chicka Boom Boom and placed out Letter E onto our coconut tree. {idea from here}
Played with different letters (E, U, D, K) on starfall {girls LOVE this site}

Our Read-Aloud Book

Recent Purchase I love. Alphatales. I seen another mom blogger post about these books, so I checked them out and then proceeded to buy them. There is little cute/funny stories for each letter of the alphabet. Like I said this week we read The Enormous Elephant Show everyday. I'm very pleased with this purchase so far.

We used printables, ideas and resources from these places.
Homeschool Creations
Confessions of a Homeschooler
1+1+1=1
Itsy Bitsy Learners
Oopsey Daisy

As usual I'm linking up to these parties!
Preschool Corner
Tot-School

Darling Little Family

2011-08-30T14:17:00.000-07:00

I LOVE how my family pictures turned out this year!
What do you think???

Which is your favorite???

Strategy

2011-08-28T19:58:00.001-07:00

You know those weeks when you feel like you've done nothing?
Yep I've had one.
Well I guess I've fed my kids and cleaned the dishes.
That's something!
No I did do a bit of preschool.
But I've decided to do it a different way.
I'm going to do a theme a month and letter of the week that correspondes with the theme.
It should be fun!
I've also decided that I am changing my cleaning schedule.
Maybe it will help.
Haha...I've got three kids and a husband.
A clean house...only in my wildest dreams...
Ya so I'm going to try something new.
Focus on only one room a day.
This will be interesting.

Determination

2011-08-27T07:28:00.000-07:00

My girls at 10:30 last night decided to get dressed and head outside.
They informed me they were going to go riding and check on the puppies.
Who know's where they got that brilliant idea.
Believe me I was trying the 'lets go to bed' idea.
First thing this morning....like I mean 6:30....
Daisy wakes Page up.
They head outside.
To go riding.....
....Guess I better take them riding....

Go figure.

PS Page does have a belt on, no pants, and cowboy boots. Daisy has on church shoes with her outfit.
Silly Girls.

Love/Hate Relationship

2011-08-26T10:41:00.000-07:00

Daisy is pretty well potty trained.
It's amazing.
It's like one day they wake up and decide I'm going to use the Potty.
Love it.
But the messes she can make, when she is not supervised.
Don't love at all.
Oh well.
I love seeing that potty dance, it means way less diapers for me.
I'm doing the Party dance now!!!
Hehehe....

Dreaming

2011-08-24T07:00:00.000-07:00

Yes I've been dreaming.
All sorts of stuff have been floating around in my dreams.
Like a weedless yard.
A non-imaginary fence around my yard and house.
My future dream home.
And this, my future ride.

I'm having more kids someday.
Might as well have the towing capacity for them right. ;)
Ah, I see once of these beauties driving down the road and I just sigh with extreme love and want.
To think I'm actually drooling over a "mom" car.
OH my....I must be a mother and no longer a kid.
I've grown up!!!
I'm going to go get a paper bag.
Excuse me.......

....well at least I'm not drooling over a van right?

Hello

2011-08-20T11:28:00.000-07:00

I've been busy.
Deep cleaning my carpets.
Cleaning my chairs and couch.
Yep it looks so nice.
We poured cement for our pump shed on Monday.
That was a busy day.
Tuesday I abandon my true hair color...blonde and went totally dark.
Its odd, yet fun.
I'm getting use to it, I think Koda is too.
Wednesday we had family pictures.

From the sneak peaks she's given us, I LOVE THEM.
Bet you can't wait to see them!
Thursday we once again trekked to the city.
But hey I got to go see what IKEA is all about.
Let me tell you, I love it.
Friday was kinda lazy, besides cows being in the wrong pasture.
Dang Cows.
But Its back to the grind, Koda is back to work.
Thanks heavens it's not nights.
Well, I'm going to go splurge and buy Taco Bell for Lunch.
I know long drive.
But I'm going to do it.
How you been?

Blessing Day

2011-08-17T12:11:00.000-07:00

Miss Melody was blessed on July 3rd by her Father.
It was a beautiful day.
We had lots of family support.
I love my family, they are so good to us.

Why are my pictures doing this?
This one actually looks kinda cool.

A little story about the blessing dress.
My sister and I both had our own blessing dress.
So when I had Daisy I was determined that my girls were going to have their own blessing dresses too.
Daisy had hers given to her by her Great-Grandma Savage.
Page's was my blessing dress that my Grandma Savage made for me.
Melody's blessing dress was given to her by my mom.
The day of the blessing came around.
I had her dressed and ready to go.
As I was sitting there in the pew I noticed the dress was a little on the yellow side.
I thought "Did my mom buy an old blessing dress or something?"

So after the blessing and further on into sacrament my mom is holding Melody.
When she discovers something.
Melody is not wearing her blessing dress.
She is wearing my sisters.

Interesting huh?
So Melody has a blessing dress that she didn't wear.
She wore a dress worn by her Aunt 22 years ago.
Wonder if there is any hidden meaning in this.
Probably not.

Just how life goes I suppose.

L is for Ladybugs, Week 2

2011-08-15T19:03:00.000-07:00

The girls are 38 months and 19 months.
What we learned this week.
Letter L
Number 1
Shape: Circle
Color: Yellow
Memory Verse: Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your father in Heaven. Matthew 5:16

Spiritual Lesson: Our Family
Song: Here We Are Together and Families Can Be Together Forever.

Talked about Our Family. Who makes up the family.
Daddy, Mommy, Daisy, Page, and Melody.
We talked about the different roles each of us play in our family.
Daddy works.
Mommy cooks and cleans.
Children listen.
We also talked about Helemans stripling warriors and how they were protected because their mothers taught them up in righteousness. We then watched Helemans Stripling Warriors, put out by Nest Entertainment.

Focus Book: Little Ladybug

We read this book every day. The girls loved it.

Activities:

We did a cut and paste Ladybug craft from COAH.

Ladybug Building. Daisy did really good with this and had a lot of fun putting the Ladybugs where they needed to go. From COAH.

Ladybug Shape Matching Puzzle and we also did size sorting Ladybugs. Daisy enjoyed these also.

From COAH.

What Melody does while we are crafting and playing games.

We also played go fish game.

Still a big hit was the "L" Sensory tub. We played with this for about 20 mins everyday.

Page showing me a Lemon

Daisy tweezing and counting lizards out.

Scooping items out of tub

Reading the Mini book and the Vocab Cards was still a huge hit.

Reading the Mini Book to Me from RRSP

We also had a playdough day and did letter L's out of playdough. And of course we did, snakes, and our names, and dogs, and and and....you know how it is. :)

We did dot-a-dot L page with stickers. I don't have the cool markers like everyone says to use, so we used stickers which worked great and strengthed those fine motor skills!

Sorting big and little "L's" Both girls did really well on this activity

Our "L" is for Lion craft found here Totally Tots

Of course we did TONS of puppy playing, or mauling the puppies more like it?

Fun unplanned learning, Dancing and playing the piano of course!

Linking up at Preschool Corner and Tot School.

L is for Ladybugs

2011-08-14T10:13:00.000-07:00

The girls are 38 months and 19 months.
What we learned this week.
Letter L
Number 1
Shape: Circle
Color: Yellow
Memory Verse: Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your father in Heaven. Matthew 5:16

Spiritual Lesson: Our Heavenly Family
Song: I am a Child of God and Families Can Be Together Forever.

Talked about how we are all children of God.
Even though we all look different and have different tastes we are all children of God.
The girls really loved the songs, especially Families can be together forever, probably because of the wonderful helps I had!

Focus Book:

We read this book every day. Little Ladybug. The girls loved it.

Activities:

We actually didn't do much this week since two days we were in the city with Page at the burn center. We did color our L is for ladybug page with the Confessions of a Homeschooler Letter of the week curriculum.

We read our memory verse and talked about it, and what it meant.

The girls also had a blast with our "L" sensory bin.

W also read our mini book for the week and went over our vocabulary cards all from RRS program from 1+1+1=1. This coming week we will be covering "L" again, and finish the rest of the activities planned.

Also the unplanned learning fun of the week comes from Daisy!!! Nama bought her a princess coloring book with stickers. She went and placed the correct princess sticker on the coloring picture of the princess. Pretty good sorting I'd say!

Linking up at Preschool Corner and Tot School.

Horsing Around

2011-08-12T06:00:00.000-07:00

We went up to put my brothers stud colt in with his new pack of brood mares recently.
We got to see some cute babies and beautiful mommas.
Many people these days keep their mares and foals right close by and they are very use to humans.
Not my family.

Is rare to have a ride-able catch-able mare around my family.
We raise our mares and colts much the same as wild horses are.

The stud is turned out with the broodmare bunch in the summer time.
He runs with them for a good six months, getting acquainted very well with each mare.
He then comes out of the bunch in wintertime, along with all the new foals.
He gets a break from being 'the king' and the foals get broke to lead.

Spring time comes around and the foals are back onto the mountain to work on that surefooted thing.
The stud gets to do cowboy work all spring and winter.
The mommas spend the winter in a lower desert pasture.
The new foals start showing up eleven months after the stud was put into the bunch.
And soon after the stud gets to go and be 'the king' again.

This is the Stud, notice the way he is all tensed up.

I love horses and watching the fuss these horses go through when a stud is first placed in the bunch is classic.

He prances around does some dance moves and chases the mares like crazy.
They all fight back with teeth or kicking feet.
That is as long as they aren't "horsing"---in other words wanting a little summthin-summthin.

It is amazing to see, plus its lots of fun to watch.
Really if you ever have the chance to see a stud put in with a mare bunch don't pass it up.

Even better is watching the pecking order establish itself with a band of wild horses.
Then you get to see awesome fights between the stallions.
Yes its a must see.

Side note: Why did we put the mares into the corral then turn the stud loose? Because if we would've turned the stud loose in the pasture he could have not collected them all and kept some from being in his band. Being turned loose into a smaller area like this he was able to show his dominance over all the mares and collect them all. This way there is a better chance he will cover and breed them all.

Well also on this trip the girls and I got to do a bit of riding.
Duh that is a must when your my kid.
Sorry girls its a curse, :) But you love it.

They also had fun playing in the mud.

(How does she find this stuff???)

And climbing all over the random stuff that is around the corral.

I had a blast and I got to have a good talk with my mom.

Plus we got to see baby foals.
They are SO cute.
But when we were done we once again turned them loose into the mountain pasture and came home.
Sigh....

A Home Town Hero

2011-08-11T20:45:00.000-07:00

Sadly I missed this Parade today for our hometown hero who was killed in action.
I was out in the burn center with Page.
But this picture shows what it was like.

Music Video to Remind us Some Gave All.

A Military Thanks

2011-08-10T23:03:00.000-07:00

Thanks to the YOUNG men and women serving in our military and protecting our country.
This past week a local boy of 21 was killed in action.
It has hit home for my entire community.
Makes me say some more prayers of safety for...
for all those in combat but two stand prominently in my mind.
...Mitch, a childhood friend who is now a SEAL.
and Cole, my newest brother in law.
He is over there right now.
How my sister deals with it I don't know.
She is brave and strong and tough.
The song Unsung Hero's by Darryl Worley is so touching and so true.
Thanks once again to all those who sacrifice what you do to keep our country free.

Budget Cuts

2011-08-08T20:42:00.001-07:00

Here in my household I'm going to be implementing some budget cuts and redistribution.
I need some help though.
I want to know what different categories are practical to have?
Right now I have groceries, household, dining, entertainment, and honey doesn't care money.
My cutting is going to be in the household one.
I want to separate it out into more defined categories.
Right now it's the one that covers everything that doesn't have a specific place.
So I'm looking for categories.
So what do you think? How do you do it?
What is included in your household category?
I'm thinking separate it out into kids, cleaning products, laundry, schooling/office?
Am I missing any?
Really appreciate your input!

ABC & 123 Preschool Time

2011-08-07T20:27:00.000-07:00

Well I'm doing it.
Homeschooling Daisy.
I'm jumping in all the way.
Ok well I'm only committing to this year and preschool right now.
Its actually just more structured playtime with mommy.
She gets ton of sensory and outdoor learning all the time.
I figured I'd bring in a little more crafts and introduce more structure to our day.
Hopefully it works.

The past month or more I've been getting ready.
I've decided to combine
The Letter of the Week program from Confessions of a Homeschooler,

and

Raising Rockstars preschool from 1+1+1=1.
We will also be doing a circle time.
It will be interesting.
We are also going to start doing FHE. Yes I'm recommiting! I have a hard time doing it. But I've decided to use this outline from this blog.

I'm going to be going with the 2010 schedule for I feel it is more what my girls need right now.
I hope I can do it. Daisy has been helping me and she seems like she enjoys what we will be doing.
We will also be including Page with our "structured" playtime when she wants.
We will also be doing lots of practical life skills.
They already do, they help me out everywhere.
But it will be lots of fun to share them with you!
Here they are helping pitting the apricots!

Wish us luck, we start this month!
I'm kinda nervous, but excited too!

To make sure I commit I'm linking up to these parties.

Tot School At 1+1+1=1

Preschool Corner @ Homeschool Creations

Burn Update

2011-08-04T21:54:00.000-07:00

My little girl did great today.
She had surgery and her skin grafting done early this morning.
She was quite the trooper.
She was really brave and did all that was asked of her.
In some ways I'm glad it was her and not her older sister.
That would've been a nightmare!
We are now home and sleeping in our own beds (Thank Heavens!!!)
Also I'm soooo glad to be out of the city.
Really don't care for it.
Anyways, Miss Page is home and all bandaged up.
She seriously has a club for her arm.
(Sorry no picture....My camera was completely dead, battery wise. Will get one though, it is comical!)
Makes her all off balanced, doesn't stop her from twirling like a princess though.
She just falls down sooner.
:)
The doctors and nurses where all awesome and made sure all my questions where answered and that she was as comfortable as possible.
I think I was more stressed out over it all then my girl.
A nurse told us, "We will give her, 'I don't care gas', Sometimes we have to give it to the parents too." Seriously I know she was making a serious/joke...because seriously I might've taken some a few times and I hate the stuff.
But, I'm very pleased with how this unfortunate event in our life has gone.
We have more checkups and then a special glove she gets to wear for an entire year.
I Just wish I didn't have to drive out 3 hrs to get there.
But if I didn't I'd be closer to the city.
Never mind....I'll drive.
Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers!

5 years

2011-08-01T17:04:00.000-07:00

On Friday we celebrated our fifth anniversary. Yippee!!!
How did we spend our anniversary...traveling to the big city to visit the burn center...not so fun.
So tonight we are going out, this is a VERY rare occurrence for us. Seriously like maybe three times a year do we actually leave the house and go on a just us date and (one is usually around our anniversary...cause I insist upon it).
Why don't we do it more, mostly because we hate asking people to watch our kids and my husband is a HUGE homebody.
It was like the minute we were married....no more dates....it took some adjusting.
So we are heading out tonight to see Harry Potter, best part....we have free movie tickets thanks to the hospital when we had Melody. :)
Hopefully he gets done with his cement job soon enough that we can get something to eat too...I really don't want to cook...well clean up afterwards, truth be known.
I usually post the same pics from our wedding...so I'll mix it up and do some random ones.

Enjoy!!!

Something I learned. I hated the kissing shots...I was always busting up. Same with the serious ones...which I usually ended up looking constipated or something.

Why is this split?? IDK. But the look on his face...I still get it, from him and his oldest daughter. I always give them the look I have on my face of pure love and joy. ;)

My flowers. Loved them!

Married in this Temple. :)

Me. :)

My man.

Hmmm....my Alien family?

Both sides of his family.

Here's my non-alien family. Both sides.

Our Cake...not quite what I ordered, but it turned out great! I wanted the fruit mixed on top, not lined up in a circle, but whatever.

Yep it was a Lamb Roast Reception. Yumm!

Table decorations.

My family. Amazing My brothers are now both as tall as Koda. Their just babies here.

His family. There are sooo many little kids now. Eight, count that 8! ( And 3 are mine....)

I really want to know what my dad is telling us here....what do you think it is?

Well....That was my wedding day.

1 step forward; 2 steps back

2011-07-31T22:10:00.001-07:00

That's how I feel life is going for me right now.
I feel like I can't get anything accomplished.
Except basic survival.

Maybe it is the extra kid?
I remember when I had Page it took about two to three months to find my groove again.
It has been three months since Melody was born.
Somedays I have a groove and totally kick butt.
Other days I'm lucky if I get the floor swept after we eat.

But then again I feel like we've been hit with a baseball bat over and over.
Maybe that's why I'm not getting much done.
Started with no water for four months.
Having a baby.
Putting our water line in.
Having to remodel the kitchen (btw I'll ave to post about that).
And now Page getting burned.
Plus during all this we've been putting in a sprinkler system.

Maybe someday I'll discover my groove again.
Until then its one step forward and two back.

Hay: A Precise Science

2011-07-29T06:00:00.000-07:00

The art of growing good quality hay is all about preciseness.
Watering at the right time, for the correct interval.
(Flood Irrigating...12 hours a setting)

Cutting it at the right time for optimum nourishment.
(When a purple sheen can across the top of the hay can be seen.)
Ours is not quite ready another week most likely.

Letting it dry just enough so it can be baled at the right time.

And removing it from the field in a timely matter so the watering schedule is back on track.

Of course mother nature doesn't take into account that farmers may have another life besides raising hay.
Which in turn results into farmers being up at unseemly hours putting their hay up.
So when a crazy farmer heads out the door and starts his tractor up at midnight.
That is why.
The hay is at its optimum point of being cut or baled.

If hay was not put up at the the optimum point, there is many things that results from that.
Poor hay quality which equals poor nutritional value.
Which means the animals that eat the hay won't get the nourishment they need.

So when your lively hood depends upon hay.
Either for the fact that you grow it and sell it.
Or for the fact that you grow it and use it yourself.
It is important to get the hay up done at the right time.

Even if it is two in the morning.

Emergency Run to the ER

2011-07-28T08:52:00.000-07:00

This is why we visited the ER this week.
My poor little Page.
Pulled the iron onto her hand.
No fun.
Way serious burn.
Burn Center Appointment tomorrow.
Wish us good news!

Like quick healing and not as serious as we are afraid it is.

This week

2011-07-26T22:33:00.001-07:00

So far this week I've
Sewn
Watched fireworks
Attended church
Played with cousins
Played with a new foal
Chased a mare down
Been to the ER
Finished varnishing my cabinets
Watered the lawn
Washed some laundry
Changed water

Left to do this week
Volunteer at the fair
Finish sewing
Change Page's bandage
Clean the house
Get my circle time calendar ready
Blog
See the doctor
Mow the lawn

Those of you with kids know I'll be lucky to getthe house even picked up...everything else haha

How's your week going?

Bottles

2011-07-22T22:19:00.001-07:00

Once upon a time I was not going to give my kids bottles.
Daisy took one when she was younger a bit if there was no other choice.
But when she weaned at a year she went straight to a sippy.
Page though at ten months weaned herself and finally took a bottle.
I was trying everything just to get her to drink some fluid.
Now she's nineteen months and still lugs the thing around.
I know... Shame on me.
Frankly though its a battle I'm not ready to pick.

Well the first of this month we were down to only four bottles.
I figured if she kept losing them, ok we'll get rid of them that way.
Well she must've figured it out.
Tonight I counted, we are back up to seven bottles.
Don't ask me how, they just showed up.
Yes...totally crazy.
Do you have things show back up that your glad to be rid of?

It's amazing what can be hidden in this little home.
I mean its only thirteen feet wide if that and maybe sixty feet long.
Hope all is well your way.
I'm doing good three kids and a husband asleep, dishes washed, floor swept, house picked up.
I'm off to read some Harry Potter and see how he fights the dragon.
...Oh ya I know...ok I'm going to read it again just because I can...
Night!

A leaner cow

2011-07-22T06:00:00.000-07:00

I've learned something new.
You really do have to drain the grease from hamburger.
I never had growing up.
I always thought the directions where crazy when it called to drain the hamburger.
I never got grease off of it.
Until now.
This steer Koda and I've butchered is WAY greasy...in my opinion.
Koda thinks I'm crazy.
So look at these pictures.

That's a lot of grease in my way of thinking.
I guess maybe it really isn't though.
So I talk to my dad about it.
Guess what...I'm not crazy.
The meat I grew up eating was really lean.
Limousine cattle are very lean.
Angus are fatty.
That's why Angus is America's preferred meat.
It is fatty...therefore tastes the best.
Frankly I think they both taste great, if not the same.
Only difference is I have to drain the Angus meat.

So take a look at these steers.

This black one is going to be living in my freezer this spring.

A Full blooded Angus he is.

Now take a look at these mutts.

My dad's steers are a mix of breeds.

Longhorn, Limousine, and some Angus...mostly Limousine though. (Yes there are two Holstiens in the picture, ignore them.)

So there's your tidbit for the day.
Angus have fattier meat.
Limousine don't.
Longhorn are a lean meat too...but they take AGES to finally get to eatin age.
That's another story.
Till next time.
Eat Beef!

The Picture Says It All.

2011-07-21T14:48:00.000-07:00

Mountain Views

2011-07-15T06:00:00.000-07:00

This is another reason I love to be a rancher.
Look at the view of that.
Deer, elk, cows, sheep, and horses all roam this country.
Along with all the other animals.
Truly a masterpiece.

Daisy Child

2011-07-14T07:30:00.000-07:00

This is my oldest.

Daisy.

Three years old.

A wild child.

Yes, she's into the dog food....again....

Breaking in Carson's new saddle with Page.

Oh how she begs everyday to go riding.

Today she was out feeding the horse.

I can't wait till she rides by herself.

Next year. Yay!!

The little smurf.

I had some paint that I painted in their room.

She hid some.

Two months later pulled it out.

And painted herself.

She looks good huh?

Puppy got a big hug too.

He was blue. Haha

She's quite the girl.

I love her little Who-Ville Smile.

Can You Do This?

2011-07-12T20:48:00.000-07:00

I Can't I'm to old.
I'd probaly break my back.
I tried to do a summersalt today.
Don't ask the outcome.
What would it be like to be three again.

Oh yes the energy they expound.
I'd love to be three again.
What age do you want to be again?

Today

2011-07-08T14:54:00.000-07:00

Hey ya'll!
I'm so sorry I didn't get a Farm Fact Friday up this week.
I was suprised the other night.
My husband didn't have to work for two days.
So we tore the kitchen apart and put it back together.
(Mostly)
I'm loving it!
Hope all ya'll's Friday is going good.
It looks like we are going to be getting more rain here.
Crazy weather.

Me

Catchup Day.

2011-07-05T21:07:00.000-07:00

Oh man the past three days have been busy, busy, busy.
Sunday we blessed Melody and had a potluck afterwards with family and friends.
It was lots of fun.

Even though poor Koda was going on four hours sleep, with another full night ahead of him.
Monday was the 4th of July like you all know.
We worked our cows.

Talk about what a headache that turned into.
We went to ear tag our calves and our tagger was gone.
Oh boy we looked everywhere.
A little child must of "used" it this past year and it never found its way back to its proper place.
Lucky for us IFA was open and we were able to buy another pair.
We then headed out to my mom's place and had a true-blue Chew party.
In other words, we sat around and talked, and talked, and talked and talked.
I don't think we left there till eleven thirty.
Oh and guess what, Koda was on call.
Thank heavens he didn't get called out.
He was able to sleep and got lots of rest in today.
But of course, he's back at the grind.
I'm telling you we need some days off.
Anyways, why is this post called Catchup Day.

I'm getting there.
So I'm kinda funny I guess.
I have a laundry day and a cleaning day.
I can't handle doing a little here and a little there all week long.
Drives me crazy.
So every Monday I do my laundry. (Its previously been Saturday, Thursday, Wednesday)
But Monday is what it is now.
I've liked it the most.
Well this past Monday I got a bit done.
Tuesdays are my cleaning day.
Well I got the house cleaned today and my laundry done all today.
With a sleeping husband, two terrors, and a baby.

Like how Melody helps doing laundry?
Anywho, it is nine o'clock and I did just wrap the cord on the vacuum.
But its done.
Except folding.

This is what my couch looks like.

So I got a hot date with a movie and I'm going to be a folding tonight.

Oh ya, I also have these cuties to put to bed
Goodnight ya'll
Me

Thankyou!

2011-07-04T06:41:00.000-07:00

Happy fourth, USA.
What are you doing today?
Me I'm branding calves.
Yep no days off for cattle ranchers.
Or at least ones who also do double duty as a driller.
Tell you something I'm very grateful for, those young adults in the military.
They are the reason I'm able to brand my own calves, on my property.
They provide us with our freedom.
My sister is married to a marine.
He is right now overseas.
I want you to know that I full heartly support our young men and women in uniform.
The are the ones keeping us free.
Thankyou to all those fighting and to those loved ones left at home.
Your making it possible for me to enjoy my fourth the way I want to.
Thanks

Me, a loving patriot.

Irrigation Systems

2011-07-01T06:00:00.000-07:00

To grow food, water is a must.
To grow a lot of food, a lot of water is a must.
Farmers have been using irrigation systems for centuries.
Well ever since farming has came into practice.
10,000 years ago Maize was domesticated.
From that point agriculture and the art of farming has grown.
There are two different types of irrigation.
Surface irrigation and sprinkler irrigation.
Surface irrigation is the application of water directly onto the surface of the fields.

Picture from http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/irfurrow.html

This is accomplished by flood irrigation, furrow irrigation or gated pipe. These three are all the the same basic method just slightly different systems are used. Surface irrigation is the oldest form of system type irrigation. (In dry land farming, watering is all dependent upon the rain.) Read more about Furrow Irrigation here.

The second type of irrigation is sprinkler irrigation. This type uses pipes and sprinkler heads to water the fields.
Under this type there is many systems.

Solid Systems aka hand lines.
Hand lines are what I grew up moving. They are no fun, yet must be done every morning and night.

Picture of hand lines in my dad's field

Continuous Systems aka pivots

Pivots is my most favored method. These move in circular fashion and water continuously.

Picture my brother took from the top of pivot

Periodic Systems aka wheel lines.

Wheel lines usually are motorized too, but they must be manually connected to the water source.

There is also a new system out on the market. K-Lines. These are similar to hand lines, yet you can leave the water running in them, hook them to your four-wheeler, and change them.

Picture from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:WheelLineIrrigation.JPG

Picture from http://www.k-linena.com/new_page_2.htm

Click on the links below for more information.

Irrigation

Drip Irrigation
Furrow Irrigation

Where to sell, Where to sell?

2011-06-29T13:17:00.000-07:00

I have a project planned for this summer.
I think I'm finally going to get around to it.
It is to clean and organize my storage unit.
When the hubby and I were married, one of our first purchases was a big long old reffer trailer.
It became our storage unit.
And what a lifesaver it's been.
We started out our life together in this lovely camper.

And two years ago we upgraded to this trailer house.

So that storage unit has been wonderful, I've actually had a place for a deep freeze, food storage, basic storage, ect.
But it also has a bunch of unneeded stuff in it.
So my mission is to go through it and organize it.
So my question for you is...
What's the best way to try and sell the stuff before I just donate it?
Craigslist?
Garage Sale?
KSL?
Facebook?
Any other suggestions?

Thanks for your help!
Me

Truth of the Matter Is...

2011-06-26T17:34:00.000-07:00

My house is only clean looking from 11:00pm to 7:00am anymore.
If your stopping by, the kids will most likely just have diapers on.
Potty training...don't get me started.
One, two, or three kids are always crying.
They take turns.
The two oldest purposely pick on each other and on their sister.
My husband, eats, sleeps, and works.
We never see him it seems like.
I'm ready for days off.
He's ready for days off.
Not happening anytime soon.
So here's to another day in paradise.
I'm surviving, day by day.
Ending each night in total defeat.
And starting each day with new zest.
At least all of the kids sleep through the night.
Knock on wood.
Gotta go.
I hear the cereal bags opening up.

Me, A haggard mom.

On My Mind

2011-06-24T15:50:00.001-07:00

The last few weeks I've had my children's education on my mind. Daisy doesn't officially start preschool till next year but she has such a thirst for knowledge that I thought I would start teaching her stuff in a more structured setting then we do things now. Which means I've been researching and documenting different homeschooling ideas for preschoolers. All this reasearch though as me wondering when it is time for the girls to go to school what's the best way? Homeschool, private, or public? I once was a strong advocate for public but now I don't know. What ate your thoughts on the topic?

Water Boots...A Must Have

2011-06-24T06:00:00.000-07:00

Water Boots are definitely a must have on any farm.

These lovely boots are waterproof.

Therefore they protect your lovely pink toe socks, when changing water.

I call them gum boots.

Others call them muck boots.

Or just water boots.

Whatever you call them you must have them or else you have soggy feet.

These are the boots that reside in my home, two pair are mine, the other pairs are the girls, and Koda's reside in his truck, go figure.
We use them all year long.
They are an all season kinda boot.
I'm always in season with these mud kickers.
:)
Although I'll warn you...they don't prevent children from getting muddy.
Well I think my girl thinks she just has to have a mud bath or two or three every day.
See this is mud bath #2 for today, its only 3:30pm too...

Stay tuned next week we'll talk about different watering systems used by farmers and ranchers.

A Long Dirt Road

2011-06-22T18:22:00.000-07:00

As you probably know or guessed I live at the end of a dirt road. This is a picture of where my property actually begins, there is another half mile behind me of dugway. I love living in this kind of solitude, the only thing I don't care for is all the fools who drive down this road at a 100 mph thinking they own the place and then when they get to the end...oh guess what...they are in my barnyard. Hmmm....I bet they feel dumb. Well I've found the perfect sign to put up right here at my property line, (I have a different one that I want to put up at the top of the hill, but that's another post).
Here's my lucky find.

The cool thing is.

We really do have a blind dog...

We also have unruly children

Ok so this sweetie is unruly...yet...

Now I just need some old horses.
Especially since I really do.
Daisy starts riding by herself next year.
I'm so excited!
So now I'm on the outlook for old slow horses.
Even though the young fast horses are funner.
I need slow and old right now.

Hope your Wednesday was good!
Me

Quilting and Facebook

2011-06-21T14:27:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday and Friday my mom and I went out to the big city of our state to help quilt the yearly Farm Bureau quilt of the counties. Each year there is a quilt block given to each county womens chair to be emborderd within that years theme. The blocks are then all collected and sewn into a quilt. The state womens committee then gets together to hand quilt it.

This was my first try at hand quilting and it was fun. The one thing I really enjoyed about it was all the conversation that went on. Now I totally understand why past generations of women all got together to quilt. It makes a tedious chore go by quickly. The only difference between what we did and the women of the past, (well besides the air conditioned building, and a bunch of other stuff...) Is how one lady had to keep checking her facebook page and telling us all about what was going on there... Wouldn't those pioneers be SHOCKED?

Now here comes the kicker I was the youngest lady there, then my mom who is fifty...all the other women were older then mom by at least ten years is not twenty to thirty...now that's funny, they having to check their FB page! Or I think so. Makes me wonder what does the future hold facebook wise and quilting wise?

I wonder which will phase out first.
I put my money on facebook.
What do you think?
Me, a facebooking quilting kinda girl...or at least when I'm on break from being mom...is that possible?

Thoughts for a Tuesday

2011-06-20T21:54:00.001-07:00

I'm sitting here.
Just got done changing diaper 56,893 of the day.
Don't believe me?
You go have three unpottied children.
It's the truth.
Another truth...
I hate mice.
They LOVE my house though.
Guess that comes with the territory of a 1980's trailer.
My future dream home has no mice residing in it.
I like my future house.
It has no suprise remodel's like this one does.
Yep, we had water leaking in our floor.
Two big squisy bubbles in th floor tipped us off.
HuBby has tore the floor apart.
The fridge is in our living room.
But at least it wasn't a broken pipe or water leaking in from the roof.
No, my new dish washer machine has been slowly leaking where a fitting was wrong.
I guess it's one way to get new flooring.
Maybe I'll go for new cabinets too.
Anyways I just seen another mouse.
I'm going to intensify my trap line.
Wish me luck and I hope you tuesday is better.
Me, the mighty mouse trapper

Animal Terminology

2011-06-17T06:00:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone, today we'll learn farmer terminology when it comes to animals, for even though I grew up knowing this lingo (I thought it was common knowledge) it wasn't until I was in college in my animal science class that I learned that in fact we as farmers do have a unique terminology. So without further ado...Farmer Animal Lingo.

Sheep
Ram or Buck: a male sheep
Wether: a neutered male sheep
Ewe: a female sheep
Lamb: a baby sheep
Flock or herd: a group of sheep

Chicken
Rooster: a male chicken
Hen: a female chicken
Chick: a baby chicken
Flock: a group of chicken

Rabbit
Buck: a male rabbit
Doe: a female rabbit
Bunnies or kits: baby rabbits
Nest: a family of rabbits

Cows
Bull: a male calf
Steer: a neutered male calf
Heifer: a female calf
Cow: a heifer who has had a calf/calves
Calf: a baby cow
Herd or drove: a group of cows
Cattle: another term for cows

Pig
Boar: a male pig
Sow: a female pig
Git: a female pig who hasn't furrowed yet
Furrowed: had babies
Barrow: a neutered male
Piglets: baby pigs
Herd or drove: a group of pigs

Goat
Buck or billy: a male goat
Wether: a neutered male goat
Doe or nanny: a female goat
Kids: baby goats
Herd: a group of goats

Cats
Tom: male cat
Queen: female cat
Kitten: baby cat
Kindle: a group of kittens
Clowder: a group of cats

Llama
Males and females don't have special names
Babies are called crias

Horses
Stud or stallion: male horse
Mare: female horse
Foals: baby horses
Colt: what a male colt is called for the first two years of life
Filly: what a female foal is called first two years
Gelding: a neutered male

Ducks
Drake: a male duck
Duck: a female duck
Ducklings: baby ducks
Flock: a family of ducks

Dogs
Dog: a male dog
Bitch: a female dog
Puppy: a baby dog
Litter: a group of puppies
Pack: a group of dogs

Donkey
Jack: a male donkey
Jenny: a female donkey
Foal: a baby donkey
Herd: a group of donkeies

Did you learn something new? Now you'll understand what that old farmer down the road means when he says " my jenny is in trouble she's supposed to be with my ewe flock but some how she's gotten in with the rams and my bitch doesn't care for it." Yep he is not talking about his wife or mistress.

Have a fun filled day!
Me

Okay, because I love you

2011-06-15T08:58:00.000-07:00

This is what I said four years ago to my husband of almost eleven months.
I'd finally given in and said okay you can hang that elk head in my house...whenever that is.
Almost two years ago it was the first thing in my house.
One sure thing about marriage, you both give a little and you both take a little, to find a balance.
Growing up I was dead determined I would never ever have an animal head or stuffed animal in my house ever.
Well....I married a hunter....end of story.
His argument against mine of "It's my house...NO WAY!" was
"It's my house to and I have to live here too."
Needless to say he won.
So this lovely guy.

Gets a dusting every week and a good vacuuming once a month
So he looks ok and not all dusty and grody, like many do.
Another compromise I've made.
If and when he gets a "nice" deer head he can mount it in the house.
That's it though.
Anything else, he can build his own room and put them in there.
End of story.
Thank heavens right now the size of my house prohibits anything else.
PHEW!!
OH and side note...yes I've changed things in the house and the couch now sits where the TV use too.

Have you had to let a dead animal in your house, because I love you too? Maybe something else?
The Elk Duster

Lesson of the Day

2011-06-12T17:47:00.000-07:00

I've had some material floating around in my house for the past, year or so.
The purpose of it to be made into a quilt.
Looked for forever for the perfect pattern.
The mailman had my answer when he delivered...
June 2011 American Patchwork & Quilting magazine.
As I was disecting it, I came upon this beauty.

It was the ONE.

I've been search for 12 months for it.

Glad I waited.

What do you think of it?

Me too...Lots of work.

In order to make this quilt you need anywhere from 63-116 fabrics.

I went through my stash.

16 Fabrics I wanted to use.

Only 47-100 fabrics left to find to use.

3 fabric stores + a bit of $$$ = 54 fabrics

54 fabric + 16 fabric = 70 fabrics to play with.

So I take my fabric and one night I cut them all into 2 1/2inch strips.

Isn't it pretty?

Next part, laying the pattern out.

Like how I do it?

I then take and seperate the pattern into two strip sets.

AHH...nice and pretty.

This is what my three year old does, while I'm sorting and testing patterns.

Isn't she pretty?

She got a shower with the hose, so did I.

We came in and got ready for church, while I was doing her hair.

Look at what the middle child did.

She was so proud of herself.

Lesson of the day: Put your pretty little cut strip piles up at of reach of the 18mnth old.

She has fun with them too.I'm going keep you updated on the progress of this quilt, hopefully I'll actually get it done quickly.

I'm now home from church, the girls are asleep finally, maybe I'll undo the mess she did.

How's your Sunday been?

Mother of professional mess makers

From the Farm to your Table

2011-06-09T20:01:00.000-07:00

One of the most discouraging misconceptions about agriculture that I come across is the lack of knowledge people have about the food on their table and where it comes from. Here's some facts you can bank on.

Milk comes from cows, which live on farms.
In fact all food stuffs have their beginning on somebody's farm.
As do most non-food items... Go figure.

97% of farms are all family owned and operated. Some are large scale and some are small scale.
US farmers produce the safest food worldwide.
The USA is a major global food resource.

As the future of the world-growing- and farming-shrinking- stand...do you really think Americans want to get rid of the farmers?
Food is one of the components of basic survival and farmers provide it for us.

NPR (National Public Radio) summed it up great "To many (Americans) this is what the future should be-fruits and veggies grown on small farms, nearby the city. But, get over it. This isn't the future-not if we want to feed everyone." (Quote found in Utah Farm Bureau News, article; When did food become so complicated?)

So please support the farmers and agriculture, they provide us with the safest food in the world.
Me, a farming advocate.

Sorry no pictures...I'm committing to doing better.

It's Official

2011-06-09T15:53:00.000-07:00

I'm a Blackberry user.
I know kinda crazy.
I switched phone companies.
I feel like I've betrayed my old company.
I mean, they did give my big break when I finally got a cell phone.
I didn't know I was so loyal to certain places.
But I am.
OH well.
When it comes to saving money, plus better service I shouldn't feel guilty about switching.
Right?
Guess what else.
I have a new fridge.
I'm happy.
It's like five times the size of my old one.
Oh ya, I'm doing the happy dance.
My girls are still driving me bonkers some days.
Its like they have to test EVERY single limit.
Melody is a sweetheart though.
Minus the keeping mom up till midnight thing.
Oh well.
I'm a mom, I'll adjust.

Hope you have some fun suprises in your life coming up!
Me

Bummer Lambs

2011-06-03T06:00:00.000-07:00

Bummer Lambs.
Poor little lambs that can't be raised by their mother for one reason or another.

Example: Mom is dead by birth complications or predator attack.

Example: Mom doesn't have enough milk to raise them.

Crazy to think that sheep usually have twins or triplets, and not uncommon quads, therefore, sometimes not enough milk to go around.

Therefore it falls upon us caretakers of the animals to make sure these little lambs get their food and nourishment.

Best solution is to find a surrogate mother for the little lamb.

Another ewe who has lost a lamb is the very best substitute.

New lambs can be easily grafted onto the new mother ewe and within a few days, the lamb will officially be claimed by her.

Another good surrogate mother is a nanny goat.
They easily accept lambs and let them nurse.
Many farmers/ranchers have a few nanny goats for this very purpose.
They kid out their goats about two months before the ewes lamb out.
This means that when there are bum lambs, the kids are big enough to wean from their mothers and the lambs placed on the goat in place of the kid.
Can you see in this herd of goats there are two lambs, I've written lamb on them in red.
Okay so you probably can't see it...but can you pick out the lambs?
Anyways, the lambs are just a part of the herd.

Another greatly used option of feeding and raising bum lambs.
Bottle feeding them.
This is probably the funnest and best chore for little kids.
But really if there is nothing like having a pen of bum lambs right outside your house waiting to be fed or played with.

Truly its the best summertime activity out there for children.

OH and guess what.

There's bum calves too.

They can be bottle fed too.

They are a lot more sloppy eaters though and can kind of take over young children.

Older children though can handle them.
My favorite solution for bum calves.
The milk cow.
Seriously, makes milking her so much easier for then you don't!

Hope you've enjoyed learning about bum lambs and calves and how they are raised.
Can't wait till next week for another Fun Farm Fact Friday!
Well maybe I should call it Farm Tour Friday oh well!

Sewing Days

2011-06-01T16:13:00.000-07:00

Lately I've not done much sewing.
I think I've burned myself out.
Don't worry it won't last long.
I've found the quilt I want to do for my bed.
Now to find 116 different fabrics.
Other then that.
I have so many projects that need done.
Page's quilt quilted, Grandma's quilt quilted to name some.
A whole bunch more needing quilted.

But I did get this top sewn together.
I like it.
Trying to decide weather to add more stars or what.
I'm calling it Milky Way of Colors.

I've also done these wonky hearts for the Sew Bee Wonky Bee.
They were fun and I really liked how they turned out.

Oh and here's my little Melody.
This is the picture that I used for her newborn announcement.
She is such a sweetheart.

Busy Life

2011-05-29T11:36:00.001-07:00

We've had a busy last few days.
Thursday we went and got a ~~piece of junk~~...A treasure for Koda to scavage and tear parts off of.
We also hit the Zoo.
It was fun.
Friday was graduation.
My baby brother graduated, along with my baby sister in law.
It was fun.
Windy, but fun.
Saturday we went to my cousin's graduation BBQ.
That was fun seeing everyone.
Today, I'm staying home.
I'm tired.
Also in other news.
We ran out of pull-ups.
Maybe we'll get this potty thing figured out now

Have a fun relaxing day.
I am.

Animal Abuse

2011-05-24T22:40:00.000-07:00

As I sit here and fight the sleep from my eyes, I stumble upon a post that touches my heart.
This is how I feel.
It makes me sick that animal abuse is so widely spread.
But good animal husbandry is dismissed and ignored, by the larger public.
Please read her post.
I CARE about Animal Abuse
It's true 95% of ranchers and farmers do the right thing and go to the extreme sometimes of keeping their animals alive.

I've been raised with lambs, calves, chicks, puppies, kittens, all in the mudroom of my mothers house when they weren't doing good or needed a warm place to stay.
And my mother doesn't allow any animal in the house...believe me.

Example:
A couple of years ago my dad had a calf that had a messed up/broken back.
He fed that calf night and morning on the bottle.
Made sure it had fresh hay and water.
He helped that calf survive to be 6 months old.
Then the calf decided to pass on.

Is that animal abuse or is that pure love?
95% of ranchers are like this.
We don't beat our animals.
We don't starve our animals.
We don't abuse our animals.
They are our lively hood.
We love them just as if they were our own children.

Just a thought.
Oh and guess what, all our calves so far are red, except one white one...interesting huh?
Have a good one!

Reasons to HATE night shift

2011-05-23T21:39:00.000-07:00

Its hard going to sleep when your man is gone

Therefore

I'm up to late

Reading, blogging, Facebooking, surfing, movie watching, sewing, to-do listing, housework, texting

Or all of the above

Not a smart thing seeing how I have

A newborn

A teething toddler

And 3 early risers

Sleep is a must when you have a child

Times that by three equals more sleep needed, but not gotten usually

So its 9:30 pm now

I'm feeding the baby

The princesses are asleep

I'm going to bed
Hopefully I'm able to sleep and not stay up to late reading
The curse of a good book
:)
Oh and the biggest reason to hate nightshift
It's Lonley

Hope your nights are better and if you haven't enjoyed the wonders of night shift...hope you never do.
ON another note, Isn't this just sweet?

Nighty-Night-Night

PS only took me an hour to upload this pic...UGH

Simpler Life

2011-05-21T21:20:00.000-07:00

Ahhh...My life has been so much simpler since I've gotten this in my house.

Running Water.

Oh man, you have no idea how nice it is until you have to go without.
Seriously four months of having to haul water in 6 gallon jugs.
Boiling water before I wash my dishes by hand.
Hauling my laundry to my mom's every week.
Showering at unsuspecting peoples houses.
Yep that was the good life....haha NOT!

I'm living the good life now.
I got this for my birthday.

Yep, my husband did good (especially for not remembering it was the big day, until 3 that afternoon).

Also I love being able to use this, which has been sitting un-used for a good while now.

Yep life is really good now, oh and so much simpler.

It's like I have all this free time on my hands.

Which means I have more time to watch and clean up after this.

Yes I think she's adorable too! Even with a chocolate beard I'll keep her.

Have a great day and eat some yummy chocolate and see if you look good with a chocolate beard too!
:)

Sheep Doggies

2011-05-20T09:57:00.000-07:00

Its Farm Fact Friday, today we are going to go to a sheep operation and learn about some working animals!

On many Range Sheep operations, (sheep operations that run all over the country side and rangeland. Here in the basin most operations have winter country, which is the desert or the low ground and then summer country which is up in the mountains, and spring and fall are spent moving from low ground to high ground.)

Since range sheep operations are ran over mostly unfenced public and private lands they require a herder to watch over the sheep and make sure they are not overgrazing the land and they are staying healthy. Sound like an ideal summer job? On a horse every day, living out of a sheep camp with a wood stove, nothing but your sheep, dogs, and horse for company, for very low wages?

A very helpful and needed animal needed in a sheep operation are a dog or usually dogs.

First there is the herd dogs, usually numbering around two or three per herd. These dogs help to keep the sheep grouped together and helps the herder keep the sheep out of dangerous places, ie: the roads.

These dogs are usually a border collie breed or another herding dog breed. They are usually very friendly, but some are standoffish.

Then many operations have guard dogs that actually stay and live with the sheep to protect them. A breed that is used is Great Pryneess (Don't know if spelt right). These dogs are raised with sheep from the time they are pups and the sheep accept them and ignore them. Notice the sheep in the background of this picture with the puppies?

They keep predators from attacking the sheep and will even keep unkown humans from approaching the sheep. There are other animals that are used for sheep protection such as mules, donkeys, and/or lamas. In the old days that is why many sheep herders had mules or donkeys, was for protection for the sheep. If you happen to be driving and see one of these dogs just walking around, then you will most likely happen to see some sheep close by.

These dogs are working and should be left alone. They are protective animals and if you let them do their job, they'll pay you no never mind. Some of these dogs are also very friendly. If you encounter a friendly one, just ignore it, they are not pets they are working animals and need to be treated as such.

Thanks for stopping by and learing about Sheep Doggies Today! Check back next Friday for another fun fact.

Thanks to my sister and mother for taking such wonderful photos!

Storm, Girls, Phones, and Water

2011-05-19T11:36:00.000-07:00

Oh my the last few days have been not fun.
All this storming going on, turning my mile long drive way into a mud hole.
Seriously.
Not letting the girls go out to much.
For they come back as mud monsters.
Phone and internet switching companies.
Ugh still crappy if not crappier serivce in our hole of the world.
Thinking of changing companies.
Especially when I think it will be about sixty dollars cheaper.
I just need to go and do it.
With three children I'm hesitant.
They'd probably throw me out of the place with the devil's my girls have turned into.
I thought the second child had to be tough.
Haha.
Melody is going to be super tough.
I'm hoping its just the storm and once its gone my house will return back to some sort of normalcy.
I'm really needing to sew.
Kinda backlogged on my projects.
I don't want to.
But I've set aside today to sew.
And here it is noon thirty and I'm blogging.
Hmmm.
Haven't even gotten my sewing machine out yet.
Well, if you have nothing better to do today you should check out this blog Pionneer Woman
Its great.
Just finished her book.
Black Heels to Tractor Wheels.
It was great.
Ok, I'm going to go sew now.
After I take the bucket away from Daisy that I can hear her filling up with water in the bathroom right now.

See you, Hope you have a fun filled day, with less water then mine is involving!

The Oldest Turns 3

2011-05-17T14:31:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was my daughters 3rd birthday.

Amazing.

She's grown up so much.

From this:

To This:

I've changed alot too, though.

She is defintaly the child that makes me want to pull my hair out the most.
But then she smiles with her wild hair do.
And she's forgiven.
She's such a girl but a huge tomboy.
I don't know anyone else who can wear a tutu princess dress, high heels to big for your feet, with a crown.
And still run down the muddy road to go help change water.
Can you?
I can't.
I can't do it in tennis shoes and levis.
Oh but I did just give birth two weeks or so ago.
That's my excuse.
So today we are in the aftermath of partying.
Yep, all three...I mean four are asleep right now.
So I'm being lazy and sitting her eating pizza and frosting.
SHH don't tell anyone.
I'm really folding laundry, or I will be soon.

Have a great day Ya'll!

Menu Plan Monday

2011-05-16T09:14:00.000-07:00

Here it is Monday again and its time to party in our household. Today is my oldest's birthday. The big number three. Happy Birthday my Daisy Mae!

Last week, I tried a few new reciepes. Yep still looking for that perfect Mac'n Cheese dish, Chicken and Rice dish, and even a great homemade BBQ sauce.

I also did all my preparing last Monday for the week. And I'm here to report I LOVED IT!!!
It cut down on my dishes for one thing. It was also nice, cause It'd come around five or six I go to get dinner ready and all the prep work was done! I didn't have to change my dinner plans, for I had already gotten them prepared, they just needed cooked. I also didn't have to go to my storage unit, very often, since I did all my "shopping" on Monday. Like I said, I loved it. But because of partying today and Koda going on night shift, I'm going to have to change my preparing for this week to tommorrow. But that's ok, you learn that quickly has a mom, flexibility is a must.

So onto my menu plans for the week.

MONDAY: PIZZA PIZZA PIZZA and CAKE'n ICE CREAM. YUMMM!!!

TUESDAY: Beef Stew

WEDNESDAY: Lasagna...Didn't have it last week, since I had none of the right cheeses so we had spaghetti instead, and we'll have lasagna this week.

THURSDAY: Extreme Nachos...Husband wants them, so we'll have them

FRIDAY: Hot Dog Delight...my own reciepe, very good, the name doesn't do it justice

SATURDAY: BBQ Chicken

SUNDAY: Sweet and Sour Pork...Husband doesn't care for this type of food much, but he eats it for me.

What's your plans for this week???
Link up here at Organizing junki.

I am a Survivor!

2011-05-14T17:56:00.000-07:00

Today I went shopping with all three girls.
We survived.
Even came home happy and had naps.
It was great.
I think I've found a little trick.
Between the two stores I shop normally.
Take a trip to the park after lunch.
But have a snack (candy) waiting to lure them back into the truck.
No fits.
No tears.
Even listened (mostly) in the stores.
Yep it was successful.
:)

Farm Fact Friday

2011-05-13T18:45:00.000-07:00

What color of milk does this cow make?

Nope Not Chocolate or Brown

White milk is what this cow produces just like every other cow that roams this earth.

Want to know more about different Types of dairy cows?

I'm going to be doing a new feature called Farm Fact Friday.

It's amazing the misconceptions that are out there about agriculture.

Let me know what you think.